Oceania

Fiji: State of Emergency Lifted

Date: June 6th, 2007 |

The state of emergency imposed by Commodore Frank Bainimarama after a bloodless military coup in December 2006 was scheduled to be lifted June 7. The regulations were necessary to ensure the safety of civilians and property, Bainimarama said, and anyone threatening public order will still face police action. Restrictions on the media and public gatherings [read more]

New Zealand: Heed Warnings at Franz Josef Glacier

Date: February 21st, 2007 |

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The Franz Josef Glacier on the South Island is a popular place for tourists, but signs warning visitors to keep away are there for a reason, as two unfortunate visitors learned recently. They and about a dozen others ignored the signs and went into an ice cave on the glacier’s terminal face only to have [read more]

Australia: Proposed Law to Allow Body Searches of Boat and Air Passengers

Date: February 1st, 2007 |

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A law expected to be passed by Parliament this year will give Customs officials the right to conduct body searches of boat and airline passengers to check for weapons or drugs. The proposed law permits agents to remove a person’s outer garments. The law is so broad, opponents say, that it appears to allow searches [read more]

Australia: Bush Fires Wreak Havoc in Victoria

Date: January 18th, 2007 |

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The usual high heat of summer and a long-standing drought have spurred raging bush fires throughout the state of Victoria. Power was knocked out in Melbourne Jan. 16 where some 1,000 traffic lights failed causing massive traffic jams, and trams halted, leaving mass transit users no better off than drivers. The power outage was caused [read more]

Australia: Rescues of Tourists Underscore Risks of Outback Travel

Date: December 5th, 2006 |

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Two recent incidents involving the rescue of travelers serve as reminders of the risk of travel in the Outback. Four people were driving in the Northern Territory from Alice Springs to Nyrippi when they had a flat tire they could not repair. As night fell they abandoned the vehicle and began walking to an outstation [read more]

Australia: Drought Threatens Major Cities

Date: May 23rd, 2007 |

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Lingering drought has officials on the verge of imposing water restrictions in several places, including Canberra, Melbourne and many towns in New South Wales. Canberra faces the banning of watering gardens and washing cars by July and possibly sooner if rains don’t come. In the last six years the drainage into reservoirs in the area [read more]

Asia, Middle East, Australia: Henna Dyes Sometimes Use Boot Polish

Date: February 7th, 2007 |

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Many young travelers to Asia and the Middle East get temporary henna tattoos, but Australian authorities have warned that the dyes used are often synthetic and contain boot polish or other toxic compounds. One, para-phenylenediamine (PPD), is commonly used by street vendors in tourist areas throughout Asia and the Middle East, and can cause a [read more]

Fiji: State of Emergency Remains in Force

Date: January 24th, 2007 |

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In the aftermath of the Dec. 5 coup, the military installed an interim government that reaffirmed Jan. 15 that a state of emergency remains in effect throughout the islands. According to a U.S. State Department announcement, many individual rights have been curtailed and those who speak out against the military have been questioned, detained and [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]

Fiji: Military Stages Coup

Date: December 5th, 2006 |

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After a year of political tension, the military staged a bloodless coup Dec. 5 and took control of the country. A state of emergency is in effect and military checkpoints have been established in Suva. The city was calm on the day of the coup, but unrest is possible. Defer non-essential travel to Suva until [read more]