Archive for November, 2006

Brazil: Bandits Rob Busload of British Tourists in Rio

Date: November 28th, 2006 |

Another high profile armed robbery of a busload of British tourists in Rio de Janeiro occurred just before dawn Nov. 26 when bandits with automatic weapons and grenades robbed 18 new arrivals near Ipanema beach. The robbers posed as police to stop the bus, then took cash, valuables and passports from all aboard. The crime [read more]

Middle East and North Africa: U.S. State Department Advisory

Date: November 28th, 2006 |

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The U.S. State Department reissued its public announcement alerting Americans to ongoing security concerns throughout the region, given continuing violence in Iraq, clashes between Israel and Palestinians, and credible information indicating that terrorist groups continue to target U.S. interests here. These terrorist groups often choose soft targets such as public transportation and places where Westerners [read more]

Brazil: Flight Delays to Last Until 2007

Date: November 20th, 2006 |

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Following the Sept. 29 mid-air collision of two planes that killed 154 people, Brazil’s air traffic controllers began a campaign Nov. 1 to protest working conditions. The increase in air traffic in recent years has outstripped the hiring of new controllers, so the system is running at only half capacity. Since Nov. 1, controllers have [read more]

Italy: Tourist Tax Rejected

Date: November 20th, 2006 |

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The plan to allow cities to charge a tax on tourists was rejected by Italy’s lower house of parliament after strong criticism from the tourism industry. The news is good for travelers but may be mixed for the cities and towns that host mass tourism and need more resources to maintain the sites visitors from [read more]

Tonga: Riots Destroy Business District

Date: November 20th, 2006 |

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Riots that followed a rally protesting the slow pace of political reform devastated the capital city of Nuku’alofa Nov. 16, destroying some 80 percent of the city’s business district and killing at least eight. New Zealand and Australian troops arrived at the government’s request and secured the airport, so flights are operating normally and the [read more]

Fiji: Coup Threat Rattles Islands

Date: November 28th, 2006 |

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A political crisis pitting the prime minister against the military commander has pushed the nation to the brink of a military coup. Australia’s foreign minister warned that a takeover was likely to occur within two weeks, and both Australia and New Zealand have warned their citizens about travel here because of possible conflict. New Zealand [read more]

Italy: Mt. Etna Eruption Disrupts Flights in Sicily

Date: November 26th, 2006 |

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Sicily’s Mount Etna is spewing ash and caused authorities to close Fontanarossa airport from dusk to dawn for four straight nights Nov. 24-27. The airport remained open during the day because with adequate visibility, pilots can avoid ash-laden clouds. Some flights were canceled or diverted, but most operated on [read more]

Greece: Parking Regulations in Athens

Date: November 20th, 2006 |

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The center of Athens has been transformed, at least temporarily, by a new pay-to-park system that requires all vehicles in key downtown areas pay for the right to park through scratch cards or debit cards activated by cell phone. Prior to Nov. 20, parking was free and chaotic in Athens, but now some 5,500 spaces [read more]

Mexico: Oaxaca Crisis Continues

Date: November 20th, 2006 |

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The political crisis in Oaxaca continues despite the federal police being stationed in Oaxaca City to restore order. Demonstrators clashed with police Nov. 20 while pressing demands for the ouster of Oaxaca Governor Ulises Ruiz. Solidarity strikes took place the same day in Chiapas state where most of the main roads were shut down by [read more]

Bangladesh: Election Violence Feared

Date: November 14th, 2006 |

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Thousands of protesters demanding election reform shut down transport networks in cities around the country Nov. 12 and closed the main port of Chittagong. At least one person was killed in Dhaka and some 50 injured when police fired rubber bullets and drove a car into the crowd to disperse the demonstrators. Unrest has been [read more]