A second leading international estate agency has backed predictions made by a Malta property company that Malta could see steep price rises in the year ahead.

Revealing their thoughts about European property for 2007, Knight Frank have placed Malta among a list of 7 European countries anticipated to see property inflation of ten per cent and more.

The incoming population of Europe's favourite tax haven is changing, according to a Monaco travel guide.

Best known of Europe's tax havens, Monaco has also been seen as a social gathering and vacation place for the rich - and home to successful businessmen enjoying the zero per cent income tax policy.

With the social highlights of the Monaco Grand Prix, the luxury yacht show and the casino, the image of Monaco's incoming population could be misconstrued as a male dominated business orientated environment, with women taking their place behind the casino dealing tables and the pit lanes for the Monaco Grand Prix.

The House of Windsor's Prince Charles has famously led the debate on global warming and climate issues for a generation.

But a new royal has entered the debate, and Monaco's Prince Albert recently joined Prince Charles at his innotative Poundbury village in Dorset.

The significance that it was Charles' 58th birthday wasn't overlooked by one Monaco travel guide.

When the second smallest country in the world with a population of under 40,000 opens a new embassy, eyebrows may be raised at the expense.

But the country is European tax haven Monaco.

Until now the world's second smallest country has been content to co-operate with French embassies around the world for any necessary representation.

Alarm bells are ringing on the holiday island of Malta following what appears to be a cancelled flight on December 26.

The flight operator, well known and popular airline Ryanair, claims no flight was scheduled, while one newspaper said they had a photograph showing a departure board with 'cancelled' next to the flight number.

The Malta tourist industry pushed for low cost airlines to be allowed to operate to the island in the hope of arresting the recent decline in visitor numbers, and agreement was reached with Ryanair, with the inaugural flight from Luton in November.

Monaco has launched a radical transport plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

One of the first acts Prince Albert took when succeeding to the throne upon his father's death in April 2005 was to sign the Kyoto Protocol.

Along with the USA and Australia, Monaco was one of the few countries not to sign up to the treaty intended to cut greenhouses gasses.

Higher UK airport taxes from February to reduce carbon emissions could impact the prices of properties, according to an international estate agency.

'There has been more discussion and calls for action recently over the impact that air travel is having on the environment,' they say, 'And one of the most obvious ways to cut air travel is to raise the price of travelling through taxes.

With a considerable period of declining visitor numbers in Malta, 2007 is looking brighter with an upswing expected in holidaymakers and long weekend visitors.

But where the government's tourist board has failed to promote Malta as a destination, private enterprise Ryanair, the Irish based low cost airline, has transformed the island's chances of remaining a mainstream vibrant destination in 2007.

The 2007 Malta Air Show is expected to be the best yet, with display teams from across Europe, the US and possibly Canada participating.

The air show traditionally comes late in the Malta holidays season, and is a welcome late boost for the island's tourist industry with aviation enthusiasts descending for the weekend.

Despite some complaints from residents about noise and safety levels, the air show does produce publicity and income for the holiday and Malta hotels industry, which in previous years has been a welcome addition to the island's fortunes as visitor numbers have slipped away.

While property prices have risen in most parts of Europe, tax havens have outstripped most for property inflation.

Little known outside of the skiing and financial communities, the small European tax haven of Andorra has seen some startling rises in her property values in the last two years, with a repeat performance in 2007 possible.

In 2005 property inflation hit 19 per cent, and in 2006 the official property inflation reached sixteen per cent, and according to Andorra property specialists Tribune Properties 2007 is likely to see a further ten per cent rise.