Regardless of War, Afghanistan Plans First National Park

Japan Earthquake Causes Little Damage, Rocks Chinese President

For a Fee, Passengers Can Speed Through Customs Checks

After Six-Year Slump, Dollar Shows Signs of Strength

European Commission Sues Italy for Gobs of Garbage

REGARDLESS OF WAR, AFGHANISTAN PLANS FIRST NATIONAL PARK - NPR
Although the mention of Afghanistan brings to many American’s minds a war-torn country, the government in Kabul and even some Americans are working together to create the country’s first national park. Covering 220 square miles, it will take visitors several hours to drive on rocky, windy roads that traverse through mountains and across streams. For many, however, the drive will be worthwhile. “This is one of our desires … that we at least will have something for the tourism attraction, the tourism destination here in Bamiyan,” Bamiyan Governor Habiba Surabi said. Developers are planning on laying a paved road for more accessibility, but it may take several years to build. Peter Smallwood, country director of the Wildlife Conservation Society from the U.S., says the focus on this project is for it to be a homegrown one. “I don’t think that our job here … is to re-create an American park,” he said.

Link: National Public Radio

JAPAN EARTHQUAKE CAUSES LITTLE DAMAGE, ROCKS CHINESE PRESIDENT - Jaunted
With a volcano eruption and a cyclone causing disastrous results, natural disasters have littered news headlines, but thankfully the series of earthquakes that hit Japan yesterday caused little damage. It rocked rocking Ibaraki Prefecture, just north of Tokyo, but no fatalities were reported, and no fears of a tsunami exist, but tremors could continue. The last earthquake of this magnitude hit Japan last year, killing 11 people. During the time the recent earthquakes hit, Chinese President Hu Jintao was visiting the country to meet his Japanese counterparts, in hopes of reconciling relations between the two countries.

Link: Jaunted.com

FOR A FEE, PASSENGERS CAN SPEED THROUGH CUSTOMS CHECKS – USA Today
Beginning Monday, air passengers can sign up for Global Entry, which will help them quickly pass through Customs checkpoints when they return from traveling in foreign countries. Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, the program will allow travelers to avoid long lines—but they’ll have to shell out $100 and pass a background check. Then, instead of a Customs officer reading the passports, those who are approved for Global Entry simply will swipe their passport at a kiosk. The program aims at helping those who travel internationally four or more times a year. Beginning in June, the program will operate at three airports: Washington Dulles, Houston Intercontinental and New York’s Kennedy.

Link: USA Today

AFTER A SIX-YEAR SLUMP, DOLLAR SHOWS SIGNS OF STRENGTH – International Herald Tribune
The United States dollar hit its new low two weeks ago, and even President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and other European leaders expressed great concern over the decline and it affecting exports from Europe, but there may be signs of hope. It has strengthened recently, trading at $1.55 on Tuesday. Some economists say that even if the dollar “creeps down slightly,” the fear of a huge drop has subsided. Although the collapse of the dollar most likely won’t occur, economists do acknowledge that if investors outside of the U.S. succumb to fears about the currency decline, they may empty dollars from their portfolios, thus propelling the decline. Last month financial ministers of large industrial economies said the U.S. and its partners were not ready to let the dollar crash, which helped with the dollar’s stabilization.

Link: International Herald-Tribune

EUROPEAN COMMISSION SUES ITALY FOR GOBS OF GARBAGE – The New York Times
Tons of trash has congregated around Naples, and years of warnings did nothing to improve the amount of waste—or stench. As a result, the European Commission filed suit against Italy on Tuesday. “The piles of uncollected rubbish in the streets of Campania graphically illustrate the threat to the environment and human health that results when waste management is inadequate,” said Stavros Dimas, the European Union’s environment commissioner. The suit requests that Italy take the trash dilemma seriously, The trash has infuriated southern residents, mortified national pride and affected recent national elections. Over the weekend, temperatures rose, causing the putrid stink to worsen. As a result, residents set fires to dozens of rubbish piles.

Link: The New York Times

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