Archive for 2006

Dubai: Police to Chase Reckless Drivers

Date: December 26th, 2006 |

Police have been trained in high-speed driving skills and are now authorized to execute hot pursuits of reckless drivers. Until the plan went into effect Dec. 22, police avoided chasing motorists because of the likelihood of causing accidents. A crackdown on dangerous drivers in November reduced by 42 percent the road fatalities in this city [read more]

Israel and Palestinian Territories: Hostilities between Hamas and Fatah

Date: December 26th, 2006 |

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In an announcement released Dec. 21, the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem urged U.S. citizens to defer all travel to the West Bank and Gaza because of hostilities between Fatah and Hamas factions that could produce armed conflict and potentially violent demonstrations. Violence between Israeli forces and militants in the Gaza Strip and the West [read more]

Mexico: Drug Violence in Acapulco, Hermosillo

Date: December 26th, 2006 |

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Drug gang violence erupted recently in the tourist resort of Acapulco and in Hermosillo, Sonora state, serving as a reminder that such violence can occur almost any time. In Acapulco Dec. 24, a grenade exploded outside two nightclubs a block from the main tourist strip, injuring 10 people, one seriously. In Hermosillo, two people were [read more]

Egypt: Robbery Scam in Cairo

Date: December 20th, 2006 |

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If traveling by car in Cairo, resist the urge to get out of your car if bumped from the rear by another vehicle. Criminals use this tactic to get people out of their cars so they can rob them. Trust your instincts and leave the area if you suspect foul play, or drive to the [read more]

India: Israel Warns of Terrorist Threat in Goa; Beaches Need Lifeguards

Date: December 20th, 2006 |

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Israel has warned its citizens about the threat of an al-Qaeda terrorist attack in Goa over the New Year’s holiday, urging Israelis to avoid the state or if they intend to go there, to avoid crowded areas. Israel’s security services called the threat concrete but gave no further details. Goa, a former Portuguese colony, for [read more]

France and England: Terrorist Threat to the Channel Tunnel

Date: December 26th, 2006 |

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The British newspaper The Observer reported Dec. 24 that the Channel Tunnel faces a terrorist threat throughout the holiday season. The paper cites a secret Dec. 19 report to the French government by the French security service with information from the CIA that the plot was planned in Pakistan to be carried out by [read more]

Jamaica: Tourism Boost Expected Despite High Crime

Date: December 26th, 2006 |

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Despite a soaring crime rate and a high-profile tourist murder in August in Montego Bay, Jamaica expects an increase in visitors this winter. Most tourists stay in the north coast resorts of Montego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios, where there are relatively few murders compared to the Kingston area and the rest of the island. [read more]

Australia: Risky Surf; Widespread Wildfires

Date: December 20th, 2006 |

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The near drowning of three individuals in separate incidents in one week prompted Gold Cost officials to crack down on tour operators who drop busloads of clients on beaches where lifeguards are not on duty. Under the proposal, tour buses will be required to park in a central location and tourists will be escorted to [read more]

Europe: Worries of Terrorist Attacks during Holidays

Date: December 20th, 2006 |

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European security officials are worried about terrorist attacks during the year-end holiday season, saying the threat is at the highest level while acknowledging they have not uncovered any specific plots. The concerns stem from perceived Muslim anger about world events this year, the foiling of several terror plots across Europe, and the large numbers of [read more]

Indonesia: Terrorist and Crime Threats during Holidays

Date: December 20th, 2006 |

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The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta issued a statement reminding Americans that in recent years terrorist attacks have occurred in Jakarta and elsewhere during the Christmas-New Year’s holiday season, and urged travelers to remain vigilant. Most of the attacks against Westerners have occurred in Jakarta and on the island of Bali. Thousands of police have been [read more]