Flying in skies for living by Romana Schlesingerova

Don't tell me, you have never thought about how amazing it would be to have an extraordinary job. To get away from your boring office and compulsive boss and have fun some place else. If you are a girly girl, I bet it was one of your dreams when you have been little. We are talking about the flying attendants, beautiful stewards who are your company on every flight you take. The image of a tempting life as a member of a flying team is in your head. The question is- what are you going to do to fulfill your dream? First of all, you have to put in your mind, that every work, doesn't matter how attractive is, is still a work and requires the same rules as a job at fast food restaurant. Every candidate needs to be at least a high school graduate, over the age of 18, healthy and experienced in at least one foreign language. The person should posses such qualities as being a team player, communicative, flexible and ready for the job any day and any hour. Your physical abilities, your weight and height are also taken into consideration. Flying attendant has to be strong enough to open emergency exits and handle 12 hours shifts. Your theoretical training should be completed within 8 weeks and you will learn a lot in a little time. Not everything that is glittering is gold. This job is extremely difficult, but if you learn how to love it, you will have your dream. Maybe, you can beat a flight attendant Patti Smart from Honolulu, who just recently retired, after 50 years of service.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071129/ap_on_re_us/stewardess_retires;_ylt=AuZanSSfgPk92tBh8k6YflWs0NUE

by Romana Schlesingerova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Antarctica avoids catastrophe, cruise ship evacuated by Romana Schlesingerova

MS Explorer, cruise ship packed with 154 passengers and crew has been safely evacuated, after it experienced problems near the Argentinean borders this week. The disaster had a lucky end, not as the case of the ferry Estonia, which caused more than a hundred of human lives. The boat went down after hitting an iceberg and the passengers spent several hours in lifeboats in sub-zero temperatures. "The water was already this high in our cabin in a matter of minutes," one passenger said. "We grabbed our thermals before we left and that was it. The rest is gone," added another. In less than one hour all passengers and crew, said to be cold but in good health, were safely transferred to the Nordnorge, and that vessel is now heading towards King George Island, three or four hours steaming away. Speaking on the BBC's News 24, the captain of the Nordnorge said that he was heading for the Chilean research station, from where it is expected that all can be flown back to the South American mainland. The accident has highlighted the growing tourist industry in the Antarctic. This region is experiencing a major touristic boom. In the 1992-93 seasons, about 6,700 tourists visited the Antarctic, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. Last season, that had quadrupled to 29,500. What country wouldn't be pleased and happy about a sudden improvement? Antarctica, honestly, is not. The land, which serves as one of the most important world reserves, is now worried. Cruise ships and ferries can bring more of a catastrophe than behalf.

by Romana Schlesingerova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Universal park in Hwaseong by Eva Zelenakova

Developers of a Universal Studios theme park and resort in South Korea decided to build the Universal Park. In the city of Hwaseong in Gyeonggi province, which is located 20 minutes south of Seoul and close to main international airport in Incheon, will be this $3.1billion project situated. This new park will have 4.7 million squares meters and should bring more than 10 millions visitors every year. South Korea's Gyeonggi province and partners for this project said that plans will be completed by the spring of 2012 and that 58,000 new jobs would be brought. South Korea has about 50 million people and nearly half of them can drive to the city of Hwaseong under one hour time. They can find there hotels, golf courses and many places which can entertain them all days and nights. This project would be the biggest investment ever Universal Studios theme park made. And at the time of opening would be the largest in physical size internationally for Universal. Thomas L. Williams, the chairman of Universal Parks & Resorts visited the side in early November and his colleague, USK Property's president Frank P. Stanek said that this project is real and will proceed successfully. Gyeonggi government and population hoped that this huge project will bring to their country enormous cultural and economic effects.

by Eva Zelenakova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.

Universal park in Hwaseong by Eva Zelenakova

Developers of a Universal Studios theme park and resort in South Korea decided to build the Universal Park. In the city of Hwaseong in Gyeonggi province, which is located 20 minutes south of Seoul and close to main international airport in Incheon, will be this $3.1billion project situated. This new park will have 4.7 million squares meters and should bring more than 10 millions visitors every year. South Korea's Gyeonggi province and partners for this project said that plans will be completed by the spring of 2012 and that 58,000 new jobs would be brought. South Korea has about 50 million people and nearly half of them can drive to the city of Hwaseong under one hour time. They can find there hotels, golf courses and many places which can entertain them all days and nights. This project would be the biggest investment ever Universal Studios theme park made. And at the time of opening would be the largest in physical size internationally for Universal. Thomas L. Williams, the chairman of Universal Parks & Resorts visited the side in early November and his colleague, USK Property's president Frank P. Stanek said that this project is real and will proceed successfully. Gyeonggi government and population hoped that this huge project will bring to their country enormous cultural and economic effects.

by Eva Zelenakova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Winter is knocking on the door by Natalia Holvova

Time is running so fast and we maybe didn't even realize that it has been a year since last warm winter already. Christmas is coming in less than month and so the next year is. The nature is getting ready for long lasting sleep and the rest after a year when the ground provided all kinds of products for our living. This year harvest is already stored and we are looking forward to snow covered trees and snowfall while walking home from work.   The winter is coming and the skiing season is about to start. Skiing lovers are expecting as much snow in the mountain as possible. After last year warm season we are waiting for this year surprise. The Thanksgiving usually opens the season in many American skiing resorts. Some of the winter fans could be really happy that week, because a lot of places have got early snowfall and already opened the lifts, conversely some of the biggest ski resorts in Colorado, the mayor revenue producer are still awaiting their better conditions. Even they try to make some snow; the outside temperature doesn't seem very friendly. This time a year it is even warmer that last year.   Anyhow there is gorgeous hope and great weather forecast that is predicting wonderful season with a lot of snow in the end of the year as well in the beginning of the next year. Colorado is number one snow active state in the country and if dry weather is going to bring decent skiing conditions it can become the best ski destination again.  

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20071126/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_ski_season;_ylt=Asz6IcNfDaUxJyG41Bnfif6s0NUE

by Natalia Holvova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Hostile Antarctica by Lucia Mitrova

Antarctica. The name comes from the Greek meaning opposite to the Arctic (pretty accurate). It is southernmost continent, 14.4 million square kilometers of ice and snow. Nothing but the unbearable white wasteland everywhere where eye can see. It should come up as a surprise that Antarctica is the windiest, coldest and driest continent on Earth. There is no permanent population, apart from the penguins. And some fur seals, mosses, lichen, few cold adapted plants and many types of algae. Scientists and soldiers come here only for particular period of time, to do their research or duty. Very important thing for Antarctica happened in 1959. In this year 12 (Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the USSR, the United Kingdom and the United States) countries signed the Antarctic Treaty. To date it has been signed by 46 countries altogether. This Antarctic Treaty is a part of Antarctic Treaty System, which regulate international relations to Antarctica. This supports scientific research and protects continent's ecozone. Antarctica really has some hostile condition that everything living, breathing has to put up with. The temperature can be as low as -90 to -80°C. And even if you wouldn't expect it the sunburn is here a problem too. It is because the mass of snow reflects almost all of the light. Never mind the vicious conditions there have always been some people, who wanted to visit this continent. Lately it has been a group of British passengers. But Antarctica and the weather was not kind to them. Their ocean liner sank down nearby the South Shetlands Islands. Luckily all passenger have been rescued so they can return home safe and sound.

related story: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/skynews/20071127/tuk-shipwrecked-british-passengers-due-t-45dbed5.html

by Lucia Mitrova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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From the telephone, to cell phone and further by Lucia Mitrova

In started with Alexander Graham Bell and hid idea. Idea that one person could be talking to another without being at the same place at the same time. And that's how the telephone was born. To be exact it was build in 1876 in Boston Massachusetts. After that it started evolving, better microphone, rotary dial but it was still the telephone. But after people got the experience talking to anyone, even if that anyone is not near them, they wanted more. Because the telephone you have to at home when somebody calls. And this is, of course, not possible. That is how the idea of a cell phone (or a mobile phone if you want) was born. The patent for mobile phone belongs to Nathan b. Stubblefield of Murray, Kentucky and it was issued on 1908(!). But it was still along way to go for modern cell phone we know. The first modern cellular technology was launches in Finland, in 1991. And in nowdays it is Finland's Nokia, who's the world's largest manufacturer of mobile phones. Nokia is followed by American Motorola, German Siemens, Japanese and Swedish Sony Ericsson, South Korean's LG, French Sagem, American Verizon, South Korea's Samsung and many others. Actually the TOP five consists of Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and LG. Of course the evolution did not stop there. Google is about to bring their Google phone, Apple got their iPhone and even a Napster are bringing their one into the competition. It's called Napster phone and it came out as a result of Samsung and Napster cooperation. And apparently it is ready for this holiday season.

by Lucia Mitrova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Heathrow`s expansion brings disaffection by Romana Schlesingerova

One of the busiest airports in the world will be soon enlarged by a new runway and a sixth terminal under proposal released by the Government. Heathrow, owned by the Spanish Ferrovial Group is the primary hub for British Airways and a major hub for its rivals bmi and Virgin Atlantic. At the same time, the airport can boast with the highest international traffic worldwide. The suggested third runway is now a hot theme for discussion. After the plan had been disclosed, residents and environmentalist expressed their anger. The cost of the airport`s expansion is way too high, they say. It will include the demolition of 700 homes and a destruction of 2,400 yards of land, which would require the abolishment of the entire village. The level of noise in the area is yet 57, considered as "annoyance." This is one of the issues the protesters are also concerned about. "The economic costs of climate change will dwarf any profits business might make from a third runway. Global warming is the greatest threat we face and requires a response that radically changes the way we think about airports." said John Sauven, Greenpeace executive director. The pro-expansion group Future Heathrow, thinks, the construction of new runway is necessary for maintaining the airport`s position as an European leader. Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said the redevelopment can be done without increasing the level of noise. Her opponents doubted it with another wave of protests and their own studies and research. Heathrow now serves 45 million passengers a year. With the new proposed terminal and the third runway, the increase is estimated for over a 30 million more travelers in the same period.

by Romana Schlesingerova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Dont hate checking. It can save you. by Zuzana Valkova

Travelling is one of the most exciting things in the world. But sometimes it can be very difficult. Not because of going into absolutely new county, but because of airports. Everyday there is about 50000 flights in the world, half of it, in big 300 seats airplanes. Can you imagine how many people is it? And now, try to imagine, that all of these people must be checked. Every airport has hundreds or thousands of employees, big part are security workers or policemen. It is very important to have good security system. Airport is a place where is a big amount of people concentrated in a small area, so it is a good place where to attack. That is why it must be protected. They have to protect passengers, airport, aircraft and crew. All these parts must be safe. There exist many kinds of checking. Usually is used X-Ray checking for your baggage. They can see everything, all your personal things inside. For people, they use metal detector, which is able to find everything possibly dangerous. So how can you hide something? You just can not. But why would you want to hide something, when you are ashamed for it, so dont buy it and dont bring it. If you want to be protected you have to agree. Just take off your shoes and your coat and do what they tell you to do. They do it for you.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20071121/ap_tr_ge/greece_china_flights;_ylt=Aq2qHxN5En4vRWSKEiiYDtms0NUE

by Zuzana Valkova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Do you think I should or shouldn't travel with Amtrak ? by Eva Zelenakova

My name is Eva. I'm from Slovakia. I just read article about "American track" shortly Amtrak. I haven't been in United States of America yet but I really want to come and see life behind ocean. I just want to ask someone, the best someone from United States if traveling by Amtrak is fine and comfortable. If it is faster than car and situated in nice countryside so I will be able to see American beauty. All I read about Amtrak was brain news about outgoing chairman who said that after his five years term Amtrak has restored and is not the basket case like it was when he came in. The national passenger railroad's chairman David Laney, whom President George W. Bush did not nominated for another term also said that probably someone in White House who would have preferred to see Amtrak eliminated. Laney's term ends in the end of November this year and he is not happy with the fact that a transportation consultant and a board member since July 2006 Donna McLean will replace him. As I said at the begging, I have never been in USA yet and that is why I cant clearly see the differences between Amtrak before 2003 and since David Laney was chairman. But I hope that someone will let me know and inspire me with adventures and experiences. And maybe next year we can meet and travel by Amtrak together.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20071121/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_amtrak_board;_ylt=AvZ1hy5FeXxMNaUGR(...)

by Eva Zelenakova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Lucky turkeys by Zuzana Valkova

This week almost every family in the United States is going crazy. One of their most favourite holiday is coming. Thanksgiving. They are home with their families, watching TV, playing games, and what is very important & eating good meals. Their specialty is definitely thanksgiving turkey. 5.32 millions turkeys are killed every year, just to be dinner for American families. Can you imagine how many it is? They are sold on every corner of every street, and you have to hurry up to pick up the right one for you. But every year there are some lucky turkeys. There is a special ceremony in the White House, where the President of the United States gives presidential pardon to these two lucky turkeys. After this ceremony are the turkeys taken to farm, where they can live happily until the end of their natural life. They even have names. They were usually sent to big farm in state Virginia, but since 2005 they are sent to Disneyland in California or in Florida. So if you want to see these animal celebrities just go there It is not sure why was this ceremony found. First president who gave the pardon was the president Truman in 1947. Maybe he just liked animals or wanted to be popular. But it was really nice decision and I think other animals should get this pardon too.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071121/ap_on_re_us/holiday_travel;_ylt=AhMFFm7AjooSSLioAmmVF_Ss0NUE

by Zuzana Valkova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Thanksgiving means travelling by Jana Kokavcova

Thanksgiving is very special holiday for American people. It means of course free days too and free days mean travelling. For Americans is travelling something like a fun, but they travel to their families living in another states or to vacation somewhere where it is cold enough to ski or warm enough to have a bath, surf, swim or sunbath. Holyday could mean special occasion to spend a great time with family. You just need a flight ticket and your vacation can start. Flight ticket. Fly. It could be also a problem. Because of this were all airports in America preparing to this holyday & to Thanksgiving. Some of them were already ready for over 2 millions of passengers. They were well-prepared to Thanksgiving this year. They couldn't make a mistake, but the possibility to have some problems at the airport is always here. It is not so simple to prepare such a big service as airport really is. It is impossible to prepare everything so well that there is no possibility to fail. But they are always trying and make their precautions more than good. So Thanksgiving means a lot of problems for all American airports every year. How would it be this year? We can say nothing yet. How will look American travel? How will look like their holydays? We don't know. But there is possibility that aspiration of all airports in America will be successful

related story: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_7511013

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Breeze through and take a seat by Ludmila Martinicka

Most of the people already made their first flight. Some of them also the second, the third, ... Traveling by plane is the fastest possibility how to reach your friends living in another city, country, or even on the other side of the planet. It became a standard way of transport. But what people forget about again and again are the rules and the conditions of boarding. Bizarre stuff is confiscated on the airports every day. For example two-headed snake, collection of crabs, human eyeballs, guns imitations, belt with fake-bullets and others. It is not easy to surprise the screeners, they seems to be quite used to it. Archives of the airport screeners could tell you about even more bizarre examples. You should be careful about the content of your bags especially when you are traveling during big feasts. In these days are airports crowded of hasting people. Would be great to check the terms and conditions of your travel agency before the flight, otherwise you might leave your Christmas gifts on the airport and never get them back again. It is true and really appreciated by some busy travelers, that several airports offer payed sending service. So, if the employer of the airport catch you with some unacceptable stuff in your pocket, ask him to send it to you by post. Or try to manage it before the flight. Flying agencies are able to accept some unusual parcels and transport them when it is planned in advance. If you passed the control without any obstacles, please, take a seat! I wish you to have a nice flight.

by Ludmila Martinicka for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Safer school buses for children by Zuzana Blazeckova

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters proposed on Monday new rules relate to safety of children in school buses. She wants to expand the use of shoulder belts, improve buckling up while riding, and assure safeness for all students go to school by school buses. Furthermore she brought in the project to increase the height of seat backs on all school buses from 20 inches to 24 inches. It should help to protect also taller passengers in accident, because they are more likely to flying over the seats with short backs. Peters proposed another claim but for short school buses too. That is, to start with using shoulder straps. However, these changes could be implemented as early as next year. Peters system for improving safety in school buses includes very school districts and states to make their own decision how to spend their money and to shield young students to improve safeness wile riding in school buses at the same time. She promised states can use Federal Highway Safety Money to cover the cost of installing school bus seatbelts. This innovation would probably add $10, 000 to the cost of each school bus. Public comments of the suggestion made by Mary E. Peters will be accepted for 60 days. Conclusions of statistics made by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say that the majority of injuries happen to passengers in other vehicles than buses. Moreover that every year an average 19 children are killed not exactly inside the bus, but on the contrary by getting on and off the school bus. So it is sometimes bigger risk for parents to let their children run at the bus stop or on the other side, impatiently get out of the bus after school day.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071119/ap_on_re_us/school_bus_safety;_ylt=Ajo0oukNPOXrHbZ2sR2HLmms0NUE

by Zuzana Blazeckova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Power of the quake by Natalia Holvova

I love catastrophic movies. Not that I am person who enjoys destroying things but the tenseness and expecting of the right solution is like a magnet that keeps me watching. You cannot leave before they find out the solution how to save the world and you can peacefully sleep in your bed again. Sometimes I am thinking what would really happen if this kind of catastrophe appear in the area where I live. Would we find a hero who would fix it for us? Would we be able to save as much as possible and as many people as we could? There is thousands of news in the daily press about terrible weather disasters and hundreds of people fighting for their dear lives. Chile is one of the countries where earthquakes are not unusual natural phenomenon. The strongest and the most powerful quake of the 20th century in the world took place in this South American country. Even though people are used to strange weather features life's loss can be incredibly sad and hard to deal with. A lot of people suffer from home loss and they loose all their possessions, objects that remind them who they are and where they come from. If life is the only thing that left, you don't care about anything else at that moment. After that the reality shows up. People are not able to live on the streets for ever. They need houses they need homes and assurance that they are safe. I can hardly imagine how can those people depending on governmental or charity help in Chile right now live after all quake consequences are gone…

by Natalia Holvova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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From war to the airports by Claudia Sonea

When Bush gets tired of the war, of the eternal battle for who's right and who's wrong when it comes to the Afghanistan and Iraq, he gets involved with the airports delays. It is for the second time since September when he steps out and orders the Transportation Department and the Federal Aviation Administration to come up with solutions in order to solve the congestion of the air traffic. No other president has ever intervened in such a problem and many aviation experts believe it has only long-term solutions. Pentagon will offer two air corridors off the eastern seaboard that are normally restricted to military flights to commercial flights, creating a Thanksgiving express lane from 4 p.m. EST Wednesday through Sunday. Bush said that the stranded passengers, crowded airports and flight delays are proving to be very expensive both for businesses and people who will miss family gatherings. If the representatives of business such as airlines and airports were thrilled by Bush action, air traffic controllers and pilots say that it's drastic and they are not able to handle it. However, the Democrats in Congress appreciated it, although they reserved comments because it came too late according to Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Ill., House aviation subcommittee chairman, while the average American traveling through one of the main chokepoints, New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport, the decision is ineffective due to the fact that the problem is the airport personal efficiency. Airports executives are also coming with solutions on Capitol Hill like reducing overbooking during the holidays and adding ticketing staff, while for stranded people they will offer places to sleep, including cots, and food and water. Moreover, Nancy Kalinowski, systems operations vice president at the FAA said that Pentagon offer means New York passengers will be able to get out quicker, especially if the East Coast is hit by bad weather, and that means 75 percent of the nation's air traffic delays will be solved. From Bush's solutions many will be effective for Christmas, while some short-term like doubling the penalties airlines have to pay passengers bumped from overbooked flights will take place next summer. His FAA reauthorization bill, which would finance a multibillion-dollar modernizing of air traffic control by replacing radars with global positioning satellites, is on the Congress list to be passed. The short-term solutions include a holiday moratorium on nonessential maintenance projects (its personnel and equipment will be focused on keeping flights on time); new runway use patterns New York's Kennedy International allowing four to six more planes to arrive each hour; a FAA Web site, http://www.Fly.FAA.Gov providing up-to-date information about airport delays. Also The Transportation Department proposed new fines for travelers with tickets but no seat from $200 for those delayed less than two hours and $400 for those who wait more than two hours to $400 and $800. Meantime Transportation Secretary Peters acknowledged airlines would pass along to passengers some of the costs of the higher fees and penalties, but also adds that passenger already lose money due to the eternal delays.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071115/ap_on_go_pr_wh/airline_delays;_ylt=AnqDmhaU1M7u5lRF4fDtCdKs0NUE

by Claudia Sonea for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Where the fuel price leads by Claudia Sonea

Because of the increasing oil prices that got to record highs of $90 dollars a barrel, all airline executives are trying to find ways of reducing cost that usually leads to takeovers. Of course this struggle to cut expenses attracted rumors that US second- and third-largest carriers, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, are holding talks with the purpose of merging. The Wall Street Journal's online edition used the pseudonym of official as the source that offered the data about the merge. Furthermore, it gave all the details of the talks like the name of United and the headquarters will remain in Chicago. Still, both Delta's CEO Richard Anderson and United denied such talks and underlined that there is no ongoing discussion on the possible merge. Indeed Wednesday Delta's board established a special committee to work with management to review and analyze strategic options for the airline. Despite the statement made on Oct. 12, 2006 by former Delta CEO Gerald Grinstein that there seems more than likely for a merge between the two airlines to consolidate. The so-called official also said that Delta held talks with other airline companies, therefore the fact that Anderson, former CEO of Northwest Airlines Corp., was brought in August to replace Grinstein everyone presumes that Delta also tries to get to an agreement with Northwest. Still, Anderson dispelled the rumors saying that he won't intermediate any consolidation with Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest. At the base all rumors stays the letter of Pardus Capital Management LP addressed to Delta's top management in which it underlined as a must to merge in order to deal with the soaring of fuel prices. Karim Samii, president of Pardus, and Shane Larson, estimated that the benefits of such a pairing would be about $585 million and also a merge between the two largest US airlines would mean a broader network than any other combination. It is a much better solution than the merge with Northwest from the point of view of the network width, but when it comes to profit, a Delta combination with Northwest would produce even bigger benefits of about $1.5 billion, primarily from combining the smallest hubs â€" Detroit/Cincinnati and Memphis/Atlanta. Who knows if the rumors are true or not? Moreover, does the official even exists? Until Delta will hold a press release, there is no way of knowing the truth. Don't go away, the news travel fast.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071114/ap_on_bi_ge/delta_united;_ylt=AjtfGSr5ZzOTvz3QhzH5i7Os0NUE

by Claudia Sonea for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Speed and comfort by Natalia Holvova

How fast is fast enough and how good is good enough? The standards of our lives are changing much faster than during the last century. Technologies are giving us space to create fantasies without borders and without any limits. The old sci-fi movies are not just ideas anymore. Technologies are developing at high speed and products provide high quality to costumers on daily basis. Transportation is much different than 50 years ago. Scientists composed amazing ways how to get to your final destination immediately without wasting time in three days express to the West coast. Rotes are made in a great condition, rails are faster and planes are able to take you wherever you want. How about short distance transportation for work? What in case we are working in Paris and living in London? What about Brussels and EU diplomats? Is it easy to connect these important European spots and make traveling even more comfortable? The problem is that they are little bit too close to each other to use planes and little bit too far to use car in the international traffic. The solution seems to be in train transportation. The trip from Brussels to Paris takes about an hour, from Paris to London about two and a half hour and from London to Brussels about an hour and fifteen minutes. The number of passengers on these tracks is circulating in thousands every day. That is one of the main reasons why Eurostar began an entirely high-speed train service between these popular cosmopolitan cities and made transportation even faster. New comfortable trains can this way provide better services for bigger amount of travelers and effectively compete with cars or planes within Europe. They seem fast enough so far.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20071114/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_eurostar;_ylt=AvA47UDnZTvA3Ng.orkJ5fOs0NUE

by Natalia Holvova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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The historical tree by Claudia Sonea

Everyone read or at least heard about the Diary of Anne Frank, a book that holds the memory of a Jewish teenager from the World War II. In the book it is often mentioned a chestnut tree that used to comfort her while she was hiding from the Nazis. The 150-year-old chestnut is due to be cut down on November 21, because it is too diseased to be saved, according to the statement of the city officials on Tuesday. During the 25 months Anne was forced to stay indoors, in a canal-side warehouse, and the only things she could see and make her happy were the chestnut tree, the blue sky, the seagulls and other birds that glided on the wind. She stayed in obscurity for 25 months before the Nazis eventually caught her in August 1944. The tree, however, suffers from fungus and moths that have caused more than half its trunk to rot and endangers the "secret annex" atop the canal-side warehouse and represents a threat to people's safety. It has indeed a historical significance and emotional connotations, but in this context has to be cut down for which the city council released a license in March. It is integrated in the Anne Frank Museum, where the tiny apartment has been preserved and the Netherlands' Tree Institute is trying to save it. They received a postpone in October in order to investigate ways to heal it, but the city of Amsterdam can no longer wait because only 28 percent of the root is healthy and they cannot risk the 27-ton tree to fall over. They will replace it in the museum with a sapling from the original and it will forever be remembered by those that read the diary and those that visit the museum. It's a pity to be cut, but it would be worst for others.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20071113/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_anne_frank_s_tree;_ylt=AuNGP9e4jZJLCzEsDBuuHUCs0NUE

by Claudia Sonea for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Construction of dams on Mekong river by Ivana Svinciakova

Not for the first time is emerging the conflict between the ecology and the industrial grow. This time it's concerning the Mekong River. There is a plan to build six dams on the river mostly to satisfy the energy needs of the industrial companies in the area . However, their construction would have a very bad influence on the vegetation, fishes in the river and on the villagers as well, as the Mekong river is the most important source of their aliment. In the waters can be found species like the endangered giant catfish and Irrawaddy dolphin, however, the planned dams would shallow the water and these species will probably disapear. The Mekong river is facing other problems connected with vast industrialisation in the area, as pollution, climate change and the drop of the water levels caused by the construction of dams built in China. 175 environmental and civic groups put together prepared a silent letter to the Mekong River Commission â€" which is made up of Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. This commision is responsable for managing navigation and development along the river. However, it has not made a stance about the future plan with the Mekong river and remains silent.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071114/ap_on_sc/thailand_threatened_mekong;_ylt=AjbBVE7a__dWzj3NBClDoYCs0NUE

by Ivana Svinciakova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.

Coney Island rebirth by Claudia Sonea

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has great plans stored for Coney Island. He no longer wishes to feed from the past glory of the city or the unfulfilled plans of the future, he wants the future to create its base starting from the present. The plan is to transform the fading beachfront into a world-class, year-round attraction. On Thursday he revealed his plans to the media, this way dividing the neighborhood into three development zones, while ensuring an 11-block stretch along its famous boardwalk. The plan is to use the 15 acres between Surf Avenue and the boardwalk, from West Eighth Street to West 19th Street, as new city parkland. However, the plan was stuck when it comes to buying the property from owners such as Thor Equities, who also has its own plans for the spot- massive tourist attraction on the site. Thor Equities is a real estate developer and has a $2 billion plan for the storied site. Its founder, Joe Sitt, acquired 10 acres of Coney Island property for $100 million and declared that despite the disappointed they felt after the mayor's statement, a deal seems something desired by both of them. He added that he will continue to work with the Bloomberg administration and other elected officials on the proposal, which needs to undergo public hearings and would require legislative approval. In times when the employment faces a shrinking market, the mayor's plan would create 3,000 permanent jobs and 20,000 construction jobs over the next three decades. Also west parkland of the minor league KeySpan Park will be rezoned with 2,700 new apartments and 360,000 square feet of retail space. All in all, it will be a really enjoyable place, where people will like spending time and tourists will definitely be attracted by the idea. Still, there is the problem with Thorn, that eventually will be resolved…enjoy!

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20071109/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_coney_island;_ylt=Ajy8UzEODmPcpqlGqd.lbN.s0NUE

by Claudia Sonea for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Nine new countries will be part of the Schengen zone starting in December by Corina Ciubotaru

Starting December 21st, the newest EU members will have open borders, which basically means their citizens will not need passports to cross into Schengen countries. The measure comes right before Christmas so the lines at borders may be shorter this year than they've been in a long time. The nine countries that will have their borders freed are Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic and Malta and have joined the EU together in 2004. They had to meet two conditions in order to enter the Schengen zone: they had to be part of a European system of databases containing data about vehicles, people and objects that cross various borders; and their own borders had to be deemed safe. After two years of inspections, the nine countries are now considered safe and their air space will also be free starting March 30th 2008. The measure, which will increase the Schengen zone's area to 3,600 million kilometres, is now expecting approval by the European Parliament. EU officials have declared the step to be one of great importance in the integration of former communist countries by reducing the isolation still caused by the former Iron Curtain. They will be joining the 13 EU members that form the Schengen zone along with non-members Iceland and Norway. Switzerland is going to enter the zone next year while Cyprus, also a member since 2004, has opted to stay out. Latest members Romania and Bulgaria are also expected to join the Schengen zone in a few years.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20071108/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_rules;_ylt=AiP.bx9fC_jRlcg2YQokhMOs0NUE

by Corina Ciubotaru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Higher oil prices caused higher air fares by Nina Gotzmannova

Rising prices of crude oil are making wrinkles not only on the faces of economist, analytics and businesspeople. The indirect impact can feel for example airlines customers. Several airlines had increased the prices of air fare because of the increasing price of oil, the basic fuel for planes. The first airline to do this step was American Airlines. The company raised the prices up to $ 20 for a round-trip ticket. The largest airline in the world counting passengers-miles transported stated that this step was necessary due to rising price of crude oil and they need to recover some of the costs. Fuel is the biggest amount of list of airlines expenses, other items such as food for customers or other services are no way near so expensive as the fuel is. Other airlines, such as Delta Air Lines or Alaska Airlines, continued. The prices are higher in every flight in the 48 contiguous states. But this increasing is not the first one. Since Labor Day there have been seven fare raisings, but this one is the most noticeable. But the airlines have really serious economical reasons for this step. According to Air Transport Association, the main trade group, the fuel prices rose to record highs. Tor the second quarter the costs of fuel were 5.6 percent higher, what is more than twice comparing with the rate during the same period last year. The price of oil itself rose up to 25 percent since Labor Day. Economy proved that it is a real living organism connected with all aspect of life, and no one can be unaffected.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20071101/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_american_airlines_fare_hike;_ylt=AoKdjyELYF8BttndfvMPapas0NUE

by Nina Gotzmannova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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