Ypsilon: New page: ==December 2011== {{Newsitem|Samoa Crosses International Dateline|31 December 2011|The nation of Samoa has dropped today, December 31, from its calendar in order to change time zones,...

2012-02-03T18:58:12Z

New page: ==December 2011== {{Newsitem|Samoa Crosses International Dateline|31 December 2011|The nation of Samoa has dropped today, December 31, from its calendar in order to change time zones,...

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==December 2011==

{{Newsitem|Samoa Crosses International Dateline|31 December 2011|The nation of [[Samoa]] has dropped today, December 31, from its calendar in order to change time zones, which will now align its days with [[East Asia]], [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] instead of being a day behind. The government states that the change will be better for business, because they will be able to do business with their neighbours every weekday, which was not possible when the neighbours were a day ahead. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110509/ap_on_re_as/as_samoa_dateline]}}

{{Newsitem|Medellin has a brilliant Christmas with 16 million lights|29 December 2011|[[Medellín]] displays this year 16 million Christmas lights in honor of the city's 16 neighborhoods, they will last until January 9, 2012 [http://colombiareports.com/travel-in-colombia/medellin/20434-medellin-prepares-for-a-brilliant-christmas-with-16m-lights.html]}}

{{Newsitem|South Pole Marks Centenary of Amundsen Expedition|14 December 2011|Hundreds of people are expected at the South Pole today to celebrate 100 years since the first human reached the pole. The anniversary is set to be marked by numerous expeditions to the pole, including several teams traveling coast to pole, even more doing partial trips, a couple teams trying to retrace the expeditions led by Amundsen & Scott and with similar clothing/supplies (although dogs are now banned in Antarctica), tourists arriving by air at the pole, and officials from the US, Norway (including the PM!), and other countries. [http://www.southpolestation.com/news/news.html]}}

==November 2011==
{{newsitem|Kingfisher Airlines cancels over 80 flights in the last three days|10 Nov 2011|Kingfisher Airlines continues to cancel flights as rumours swirl around the cash-strapped airline. The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation has sent a show-cause notice to the airline, and Kingfisher insists the aircraft were withdrawn at short notice to allow reconfiguration of business class seating. [http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Kingfisher-gets-DGCA-notice-over-cancellations/873697/]}}

{{newsitem|ANA Flies First Boeing 787 Dreamliner|1 Nov 2011|ANA is the first airline to fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. It's first flight took place this morning, traveling from [[Tokyo]] (Haneda) to [[Okayama]]. Another flight from Tokyo (Haneda) to [[Hiroshima]] took place later in the day. The Haneda-Okayama and Haneda-Hiroshima flights will be its first regular flights however, ANA hopes to eventually also use the planes for international flights. [http://www.frequentbusinesstraveler.com/2011/12/ana-boeing-787-dreamliner-tokyo-haneda-to-okayama-my-first-flight-review/]}}

==October 2011==

{{newsitem|Qantas Airlines Grounds All Flights|29 October 2011|Australia's largest and oldest airline has halted all departures effective 0600 GMT on October 29. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15504838] Not affected will be flights on QantasLink (flight #s QF1400 - 2699), Jetstar flights, & Jetconnect flights to/from New Zealand. The airline been in a bitter and very public dispute for months with several unions over [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14573494 plans] to restructure and expand operations in Asia, eliminating 1000 jobs. While Qantas has a strong command of domestic air travel in Australia, its international routes have suffered huge losses for several years and believes expansion in Asia is the only way to fix that. Grounding flights was necessary for the company to begin a lock-out of union employees beginning Monday "as long as it takes to reach a conclusion on this." The move has left thousands of Qantas passengers stranded around the globe. Passengers can receive a full refund or book a later flight. For international passengers, the airline will arrange accommodation, meals, & transfers. [http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/disruptions/global/en Info from Qantas] The Australian government may move to end hostilities by both unions and management on Sunday, forcing flights to resume.}}

{{newsitem|[[Bangkok]] floods spark travel alert|26 October 2011|Tour packages cancelled as flood defences crumbling in [[Bangkok]]. Amidst a red alert, travellers are advised to avoid non-essential travel due to a 'significant' threat according to Thailand's PM Yingluck Shinawatra. [http://phuketwan.com/tourism/latest-bangkok-floods-spark-travel-alert-threaten-city-yingluck-warns-14908/]}}

{{newsitem|Qantas flights cancelled due to strike|18 October 2011|Many cancellations of flights are expected in the following months as aircraft engineers of Qantas threatened to continue strikes until the end of the year. Two Boeing 767 aircraft would be grounded by 24 October, in addition to five aircraft that are already grounded. It is expected a total of 500 Qantas flights will be cancelled in the next month alone. [http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/18/uk-qantas-strike-idUSLNE79H01A20111018]}}

{{newsitem|MassKara Street Dance Competition|16 October 2011|[[Bacolod]]'s MassKara Festival's street dance is held today. This mardi-gras destival boasts it as the Festival of Smiles attracting thousands annually to witness the Street dance competition that covers the whole city with smiles of the masks of the dancers today.}}

{{newsitem|Cypress Gardens reopens as Legoland Florida|15 October 2011|[[Florida]]'s oldest amusement park, Cypress Gardens in the city of [[Winter Haven]], reopens today as Legoland Florida after being closed for two years. The new park is the flagship property of the Legoland chain, owned jointly by Lego and the Merlin Entertainment Company.}}

==September 2011==

{{newsitem|Floods hit Thailand|17 September 2011|Flash floods have caused casualties and major disruptions in Thailand's central, northern and northeastern regions. A total of 102 people were confirmed dead with two persons missing. The floods affect popular tourist areas, including the provinces of Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi, Lopburi, Khon Kaen, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Ubon Ratchathani, and others. [http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/257036/flood-death-toll-rises-to-102]}}

==August 2011==

{{newsitem|Hurricane hits U.S. Northeast|26 August 2011|Hurricane Irene reaches the U.S. Northeast, causing major travel disruptions from [[Virginia Beach]] all the way up to [[Boston]]. Areas near the ocean are being evacuated, including parts of [[New York City]], which could potentially see devastating floods. In addition to flooding, falling trees due to high winds, and potential tornadoes in [[New England]], major transportation modes are expected to shut down: airports, trains, and intra-city public transit systems.}}

==July 2011==

{{newsitem|South Sudan is World's Newest Nation|9 July 2011|Today the nation of [[South Sudan]] gains independence from [[Sudan]], which is also the first nation to officially recognize South Sudan. There is a lot of hope that this will help ease tensions in the area and Sudan has offered to help the new nation, which gains its independence as one of the poorest, least-developed and least-educated nations in the world. Travelers wishing to visit the new nation should be cautious and patient as the nation is not well-established, including visa application processing. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14089843]}}

{{newsitem|Sri Lanka Eases Travel Restrictions|5 July 2011|For years foreigners have been restricted from Sri Lanka's [[Northern (Sri Lanka)|Northern Province]] for safety reasons due to civil war. Today, the nation has lifted these restrictions so that foreign tourists may once again travel to the northern region. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14022616]}}

==June 2011==

{{newsitem|Worlds Longest Sea Bridge Opens in China|30 June 2011|The world's longest sea bridge opens today in China, spanning 26.4 miles from the city of [[Qingdao]] to the island of [[Huangdao]]. The previous record-holder, [[Louisiana]]'s Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is just shy of 24 miles in length. The Jiaozhou Bay Bridge took four years to build. The record is not expected to last too long however, as China is also working on a bridge that will connect [[Guangdong]] with [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]] which will be 30 miles long when completed. The expected completion date of that bridge is 2016. Although the new bridge is the longest sea bridge, the longest bridge in the world is the Danyang-Kunshan Bridge, also in [[China]], which is over 100 miles long.[http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Entertainment/01-Jul-2011/Longest-sea-bridge-opens]}}

{{newsitem|Athens Under Civil Unrest|29 June 2011|[[Athens]], Greece hosts a continuing wave of protests against austerity measures on massive spending cuts and privatizations. Clashes with riot police are often violent. Police exercises indiscriminate use of chemicals (tear gas), flash and smoke grenades, especially in Syntagma Square, even against medical personnel and tourists in taverns and shops.}}

{{newsitem|World Heritage Sites Added from Kenya, Japan, Ethiopia and More|29 June 2011|The World Heritage meeting ended today with a total of 25 new sites being added to the list. The historic area of [[Bridgetown]] was the first-ever site to be added from [[Barbados]]. [[Japan]] and [[Kenya]] each had two world sites added ([[Hiraizumi]] and the [[Ogasawara Islands]] for Japan and [[Mombasa|Fort Jesus]] and the [[Great Rift Valley]] for Kenya). Hiraizumi is located in the Tohoku region, which was affected by the disastrous earthquake/tsunami in March. Japan is hoping that its addition to the list will help revive tourism in the region. The African continent also saw [[Senegal]]'s [[Saloum Delta]], [[Sudan]]'s ancient city of [[Meroe]], and the traditional village of [[Konso]] in [[Ethiopia]]. Each of the nations with the most World Heritage Sites ([[Italy]]'s [[Longobards]], [[Spain]]'s [[Serra de Tramuntana]], and [[China]]'s [[Hangzhou]] West Lake area) also had sites added however, at the meeting there was talk about making it more difficult for such nations to get new heritage sites, as there are still many nations with very few or zero sites that they believe should be given greater priority. See the full list of new Sites on UNESCO's website [http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/776] }}

{{newsitem|Macedonia Unveils Controversial Alexander the Great Statue|23 June 2011|A statue of Alexander the Great has been unveiled in [[Skopje]], the capital of [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]]. It is a 47 foot bronze statue, standing on a pedestal in the city's central square. While it is not controversial within Macedonia, neighboring [[Greece]] claims that the nation is trying to 'steal' this hero, who was actually born in [[Macedonia (Greece)|Greek Macedonia]]. For Macedonians however, the statue is a point of pride. [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/24/world/europe/24iht-macedonia24.html]}}

{{newsitem|Violence Resurges in Northern Ireland|21 June 2011|Riots have resurged in [[Belfast]], the capital of [[Northern Ireland]] today as the rioters fired Molotov cocktails at police. It began last night when members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (a militant group) began attacking civilian homes in a Catholic part of the city and has since continued. Police have baracaded many streets in hopes of quelling the riots. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110622/ap_on_re_eu/eu_nireland_riot]}}

{{newsitem|Henry Ford Museum Displays America's Emancipation Proclamation|20-22 June 2011|The original Emancipation Proclamation is on loan by the Henry Ford Museum in [[Dearborn]], [[Michigan]] from the National Archives for only 2 days (June 20-22). It is being shown as a part of the museum's larger Civil War artifacts display. The signing of this document by President Lincoln marked end of slavery in the United States. [http://www.thehenryford.org/events/emancipationProclamation.aspx]}}

{{newsitem|China Bars Foreign Tourists from Tibet|16 June 2011|Foreigners visiting [[China]] need special permission to enter the autonomous region of [[Tibet]], so China has temporarily ceased giving such permission to all foreign tourists. It is speculated that the government is trying to prevent people from attempting to lead uprisings as the nation prepares to celebrate its 90th year of Communism. Many hope that foreigners will be allowed to visit again in late July, but no definitive date has been given for when foreign visitors will be allowed back into Tibet. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13798650]}}

{{newsitem|Eritrea Volcanoes Cancel Flights|13 June 2011|Ash clouds from the Dubbi Volcano in [[Eritrea]] are being watched closely by airlines, as Lufthansa has cancelled all flights to Eritrea and some flights to [[Ethiopia]]. The ash clouds are expected to grow and have considerable affects on flights to/from [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Israel]]. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13752433]}}

{{newsitem|Volcanoes Erupt in Chile|5 June 2011|The Puyehue Volcano chain of volcanoes in [[Chile]] began erupting yesterday, spewing ash into the air. Those around the volcanoes have been evacuated. The ash clouds are also reaching [[Argentina]]. Argentinians are being encouraged to stay indoors and the airport in [[Bariloche]] has been closed. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13657187]}}

{{newsitem|Attacks Continue in Yemen After Ceasefire Agreement|2 June 2011|Earlier this week the Yemeni president and rebel leaders agreed on a ceasefire however, attacks have continued and the president himself has been injured by rebel attacks in [[Sana'a]]. As fighting has been continuous for months and only appear to be worsening, travelers should continue to avoid Yemen as a destination until the situation calms down. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13649538]}}

==May 2011==

{{newsitem|Yemen Agrees on Ceasefire|29 May 2011|After days of fighting in [[Sana'a]], the president of [[Yemen]] and the leader of a rebel tribe have agreed to a ceasefire. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13586076]}}

{{newsitem|Egypt Opens Borders with Gaza|29 May 2011|[[Egypt]] has reopened its borders with [[Gaza]] for the first time since 2007. It stated that women, children, and men over 40 will be able to travel freely without a permit from Gaza to Egypt from 9:00-21:00. Trade will still not be permitted. Residents of Gaza are glad to be able to leave however, security concerns have been raised by Israel. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13581141]}}

{{newsitem|Cote D'Ivoire Returns to Normalcy|22 May 2011|With the end of political chaos comes the rise of Ouattara as the official leader of the [[Cote d'Ivoire]] and a return to normalcy for citizens. Last month many were killed and injured across the country as UN forces fought with the opposition leader which finally led to his arrest. Markets have been reopened, as well as public buildings, and the people prepare to celebrate their new leader. The nation is now rebuilding and hopes the new leader will help bring peace. Although this appears to be good news, travelers are still advised to be cautious and watch the situation closely. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13457083]}}

{{newsitem|P-Noy National Games to be held in Bacolod|22 May 2011|From May 22 to 29, the P-Noy National Games will be held in various cities in MetroBacolod; [[Bacolod]], [[Silay]] and [[Talisay]]. The said event is a preparation for SEA Games in [[Jakarta]], [[Indonesia]].}}

{{newsitem|Las Vegas' Sahara Hotel closes permanently|17 May 2011|The legendary Sahara Hotel and Casino in [[Las Vegas]] has closed permanently today after being in business for nearly three-fifths of a century. All pending Sahara reservatons will be transfered to Circus Circus.}}

{{newsitem|Protests break out in Spain|15 May 2011|Upset by political delays and the inability to deal with the ongoing economic crisis in Spain, The country is experiencing widespread demonstrations throughout the country. There are major concerns whether or not the protests will intensify.}}

{{newsitem|Lower Mississippi Floods Worst in U.S. History|12 May 2011|After many days of rain across the country, the Mississippi River began flooding last week. Many towns near the river are flooded, including the city of [[Memphis]], Tennessee. There are major concerns over the floods affects on [[Baton Rouge]] and [[New Orleans]] which lie at the mouth of the river along the Gulf of Mexico. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110511/ap_on_re_us/us_mississippi_river_flooding]}}

{{newsitem|Southwest Closes AirTran Acquisition|May 3, 2011|Southwest Airlines has closed its acquisition of its chief competitor AirTran Airways. Starting in 2012, all AirTran aircraft will be repainted in Southwest colors. Until then, the two airlines will operate separately until a Single Operating Certificate is received.}}

==April 2011==
{{newsitem|Ecuador Under Volcano Alert|29 April 2011|The nation of [[Ecuador]] is currently under alert of a possible volcanic erruption as Tungurahua Volcano began spewing ashes. Those living around the volcano have already been evacuated. Travelers should pay close attention to any further developments and avoid areas near the volcano. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13204095]}}

{{newsitem|Violence Resurges Between Thailand and Cambodia|29 April 2011|The border between [[Thailand]] and [[Cambodia]] was never formally defined, and with some very important historic temples in the area, disputes over which nation owns them has occurred for years. This week shots were fired at [[Ta Krabey]] and [[Preah Vihear]], a [[World Heritage Site]]. Thailand claims that the Cambodians fired on them while the Cambodians warn not to trust the Thais who they say had started the conflict by bombing Cambodian territory. Travelers should avoid the area at this time. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13234944]}}

{{newsitem|Shinkansen Connecting Tokyo and Sendai Reopens|25 April 2011|The Shinkansen connecting [[Tokyo]] and [[Sendai]] begins operation today for the first time since the earthquake struck on March 11. The nation is slowly returning to a relative state of normalcy, although the nuclear plants in [[Fukushima (prefecture)|Fukushima]] remain radioactive, so travelers should continue to avoid Fukushima Prefecture. [http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110425D25JF029.htm]}}

{{newsitem|Tokyo Disneyland Reopens|15 April 2011|[[Tokyo Disneyland Resort]] was shut down after the earthquake that struck the northern [[Tohoku]] region a month ago on March 11. The resort was completely unaffected by the disaster; however, it was shut down out of respect for those who were killed, missing, and otherwise affected by the disaster for a period of mourning. The resort reopened today, and citizens are quite happy, as many have been looking for a happy distraction to temporarily take their minds off the problems they face. In the north of the country, radiation still poses a threat and transportation is still limited, but much of the nation has returned to a state of normalcy. [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703648304576264502419543790.html]}}

{{newsitem|Cuba Faces Worst Drought in 50 Years|14 April 2011|The nation of [[Cuba]] has been relying on water from reservoirs for over 2 years however, that supply has dwindled down to 1/5 of what it once was. Many of the nation's cities can only get water via supply trucks, including parts of the capital, [[Havana]]. Reports of nearly 70% of the water pipes supplying the cities with water are leaking have alarmed citizens and are straining the government as it tries to deal with the situation. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13079773]}}

==March 2011==
{{newsitem|UN-Backed Forces Take Capital in Cote D'Ivoire|30 March 2011|The nation of [[Cote D'Ivoire]] has been in a state of civil war since 2002, which pro-Ouattara forces ruling the north and pro-Gbagbo forces ruling the south. Today, pro-Ouattara forces, backed by the United Nations, overtook the nation's capital of [[Yamoussoukro]]. They have also taken control of [[Daloa]] and [[Duekoue]] in west and [[Bondoukou]] in the east. All Gbagbo forces have fled the capital; however, they made a statement that it is "part of their strategy". Ouattara's forces are hoping to gain control of [[San Pedro (Cote D'Ivoire)|San Pedro]], an important port city, which would greatly benefit them. Because the south is ruled by Gbagbo's forces, they currently rule the nation's ports, including the largest city, [[Abidjan]]. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12908004]}}

{{newsitem|World's Tallest Hotel Opens in Hong Kong|29 March 2011|The Ritz-Carlton hotel in [[Hong Kong]] opens today. It stands at 1600 feet tall, surpassing the Burj Khalifa's Armani Hotel ([[Dubai]]). Room rates are said to start at HK$5,000, although there are discount prices available for those staying during the opening month. [http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2011/03/ritz-carlton-worlds-tallest-hotel-hong-kong/148451/1]}}

{{newsitem|US, France, and UK Bomb Libya|20 March 2011|While Libya has been in turmoil for weeks as President Gaddafi has tried to maintain control of the country, on March 19 the US, UK, and France began bombing Gaddafi's forces in the Mediterranean, as well as on land in [[Tripoli]], [[Benghazi]], [[Sirte]], [[Zuwara]], [[Mitiga]] and [[Misrata]]. Gaddafi hopes to use the bombings as leverage to convince Libyans that it is a form of Western colonialism and as the nation continues its civil war amidst the bombings, travelers should continue to avoid Libya and locations near its borders. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12796972]}}

{{newsitem|Bahrain Destroys Iconic Pearl Monument|18 March 2011|The Bahraini government sent bulldozers to topple the iconic Pearl Monument in [[Manama]], claiming it represented "a bad memory". [http://www.npr.org/2011/03/18/134665539/Pearl-Monument-Destroyed]}}

{{newsitem|Kyushu Shinkansen Segment Opens in Japan, Despite the Earthquake|12 March 2011|Today [[Japan]]'s popular and reliable "Shinkansen" bullet train network opens a 130 km segment between [[Fukuoka]] and [[Yatsushiro]], completing the Kyushu Shinkansen Kagoshima Route and linking it to the rest of the Shinkansen network. Six new bullet train stations will open in [[Tosu]], [[Kurume]], [[Kumamoto]] and other cities.

The opening of the new segment will slash one hour from the travel time between Fukuoka and [[Kagoshima]] to 1 hour 20 minutes. Through services will also commence, linking the Kyushu Shinkansen with the San'yo Shinkansen: [[Osaka]] to Kumamoto will be reduced to three hours, and Osaka to Kagoshima will be reduced to 3 hours 45 minutes. From [[Tokyo]], it will be possible to reach Kagoshima in as little as 7 hours on two trains.

New bullet train lines open to much fanfare in Japan, however these usually-lavish departure and arrival ceremonies have been cancelled in the aftermath of the March 11th earthquake in [[Tohoku]].}}

{{newsitem|Japan Hit By 8.9 Magnitude Earthquake and Tsunamis|11 March 2011|An 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck just east of Japan's [[Tohoku]] region, causing a 10 foot tsunami to wreak havoc predominantly in [[Miyagi|Miyagi Prefecture]], including mud floods in the capital of [[Sendai]], although widespread fires and flooding have occurred in [[Iwate]], [[Fukushima (prefecture)|Fukushima]], and [[Ibaraki]]. Coastal cities in the region were most affected, but shocks could be felt in [[Tokyo]], where it caused several fires, and even as far as [[Kyoto]]. The Asian Pacific Rim is on tsunami alert. This includes [[Russia]], [[Hawaii]], [[New Zealand]], [[Northern Mariana Islands]], [[Guam]], [[Indonesia]], [[Philippines]], [[Taiwan]], and the western coast of [[South America]]. There is potential for these regions to be hit with waves 6-10 meters high. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_earthquake]}}

==February 2011==
{{newsitem|Museums Reopen in Egypt|22 February 2011|Since the protests began in January, many of Egypt's famous museums and attractions were closed. Now, as the nation tries to return to a state of normalcy, its museums and historical attractions have been reopened. They hope to dispell rumors that famous artifacts were stolen and to attract tourists back as the halt of tourism in the nation has cost them $800,000,000. While tourists remain wary of Egypt, Egyptians hope that this will change soon and that perhaps those who support the Egyptian people will show their support by coming to visit Egypt. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12521034]}}

{{newsitem|Earthquake Devastates Christchurch, New Zealand|22 February 2011|An earthquake, already being called one of the worst natural disasters in New Zealand's history hit [[Christchurch]] this afternoon. It was a magnitude 6.3, and it left many roads cracked, buildings collapsed, and at least 65 people are confirmed dead. The steeple of the iconic Christchurch Cathedral collapsed but the rest of the church is still intact. Many other buildings throughout the city are unstable or have collapsed. The city is in a state of emergency. Travelers should avoid it at this time. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_re_as/as_new_zealand_earthquake}}

{{newsitem|End of Daylight Saving Time in Brazil|20 February 2011|The Brazilian Daylight Saving Time ends at midnight on February 20, 2011. The clocks should be moved back one hour in the states of Brazil where the summer time was in effect: [[Distrito Federal (Brazil)|Federal District]], [[Espirito Santo]], [[Goiás]], [[Mato Grosso]], [[Mato Grosso do Sul]], [[Minas Gerais]], [[Paraná]], [[Rio de Janeiro (state)|Rio de Janeiro]], [[Rio Grande do Sul]], [[Santa Catarina]] and [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]]}}

{{newsitem|More Protests Erupt in Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, and Yemen|15 February 2011|As predicted, the protests in [[Tunisia]] last month have led discontent citizens throughout the Muslim world to rise up in protest. After [[Egypt]] successfully ousted Mubarak, citizens in [[Yemen]], [[Bahrain]], and [[Algeria]] have launched their own protests, many met with violence by police. [[Iran]] saw protests today in [[Tehran]]. Travel in these countries should be avoided and those traveling to nearby nations should pay extra attention to news and reports of how likely something similar could occur where they are planning to travel. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110214/ts_yblog_thelookout/egypts-impact-unrest-sweeps-the-middle-east]}}

==January 2011==

{{newsitem|Shinmoedake Volcano Erupts in Southern Kyushu|30 January 2011|A few days ago, Shinmoedake Volcano in [[Kagoshima (prefecture)|Kagoshima Prefecture]] near the border with [[Miyazaki (prefecture)|Miyazaki Prefecture]] on the Japanese southern island of [[Kyushu]] has erupted, causing both flight and train cancellations in the area. Recently ash has been piling in nearby towns. There are currently no reports of injury but travelers should avoid the region until the area is deemed safe. [http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110129003347.htm]}}

{{newsitem|Protests Rock Egypt|28 January 2011|Ongoing political and social unrest in [[Egypt]] has led to violent conflicts between protest and local police forces, disrupting road travel and communications. The Government of Egypt has imposed a curfew from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. in [[Cairo]], [[Alexandria]] and [[Suez]] until further notice. Non-essential travel to Egypt should be avoided at this time, particularly to the cities of Cairo, the tourist centre of [[Luxor]], as well as Alexandria and Suez. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12310266]}}

{{newsitem|Disney Dream Christened, Begins Maiden Voyage|26 January 2011|[[Disney Cruise Line]] has launched its third ship, the largest of the line, the ''Disney Dream''. It will take three- and four-day cruises in the Caribbean, while the ''Disney Wonder'' moves to a new permanent home on the West Coast, taking cruises to Alaska and Mexico.}}

{{newsitem|Riots Break Out Across Tunisia|14 January 2011|Riots have broken out in [[Tunis]], the nation's capital, as well as other cities across the nation over job loss and political discontent among citizens. All airspace around the nation has been closed and British nationals are being evacuated. [[France]], former colonial ruler with the largest number of citizens in Tunisia, has simply cautioned its citizens to be aware and avoid large gatherings. How long the riots will last and the outcome remain uncertain. Travelers in neighboring nations, [[Algeria]] and [[Libya]] should also be on alert as some believe the Tunisian riots could possibly stir similar discontent throughout the region. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12157599]}}

{{newsitem|Flooding Continues to Wreak Havoc in Brisbane, Australia|14 January 2011|Australia's third largest city, [[Brisbane]], remains in dire straits after recent flooding has left entire suburbs underwater. In areas where the floodwaters have subsided, layers of sludge and mud remain. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12173846]}}

{{newsitem|Over 500 Dead in Brazil Mudslide|14 January 2011|A recent mudslide has devastated areas just outside [[Rio de Janeiro]] over the past few days. The death toll has now risen to over 500 and authorities are calling it the worst natural disaster in the nation's history. [http://www.apakistannews.com/over-500-dead-in-brazil-mudslide-disaster-224207]}}

Mexico - World Heritage Patrimony - January 4, 2010 | [[Mexico]] is the number one country in the Americas and the fifth nation in the world with the most World Heritage sites and traditions protected by Unesco; [[Mexico]] counts with 29 cultural and natural world heritage sites and 3 intangible world heritage traditions. [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/?search=Mexico&searchSites=&search_by_country=&search_yearinscribed=&type=&themes=&media=&region=&criteria_restrication=&order=]

Travel news/2011 - Revision history

Ypsilon: New page: ==December 2011== {{Newsitem|Samoa Crosses International Dateline|31 December 2011|The nation of Samoa has dropped today, December 31, from its calendar in order to change time zones,...