Political updates

Bahrain: Travel Alert about Violent Demonstrations

Date: January 25th, 2012 |

The U.S. State Department issued a travel alert about the ongoing possibility for violent demonstrations throughout Bahrain. In recent months, all travelers have faced increased scrutiny trying to get into the country and Bahraini officials have denied entry to some U.S. citizens. Traveling within the country can become dangerous without notice, as clashes between security [read more]

Cote d’Ivoire: Travel Warning due to Civil Unrest

Date: December 17th, 2011 |

No Comments

The U.S. State Department issued a travel warning citing the potential for civil unrest because several months of demonstrations have raised security concerns. Although the situation has recently stabilized, the Embassy continues to operate as a partially unaccompanied post, meaning minor dependents of Embassy workers are not permitted to travel with family members to or [read more]

Peru: State of Emergency due to Demonstrations

Date: December 10th, 2011 |

No Comments

A two-month state of emergency, which suspends certain constitutional rights such as freedom of assembly, association and circulation, and gives security forces the right to search homes at will, has been instituted in the provinces of Cajamarca, Celendín, Hualgayoc and Contumazá. The security measure is a reaction to demonstrations against the new Conga gold mine [read more]

Egypt: Copts Speaking out Against Military Rule

Date: October 17th, 2011 |

No Comments

Many Coptic Christians are speaking out against the military’s handling of the so-called transition to democracy after Egyptian troops killed at least 25 protesters in Cairo Oct. 9. Though the revolution is officially over, violence has still been an issue as rival religious sects compete for power. After the ousting of former president Hosni Mubarak [read more]

Bahrain: Travel Alert Regarding Potential Unrest

Date: August 30th, 2011 |

No Comments

The U.S. State Department issued a travel alert Aug. 19 regarding the potential for unrest in Bahrain. Despite the withdrawal of Bahrain Defense Force personnel since the lifting of the State of National Safety, the State Department warned of the potential for spontaneous civil and political unrest. Though the airport in Bahrain remains open, U.S. [read more]

Egypt: 31-year-old Emergency Laws Lifted in some Cases

Date: January 25th, 2012 |

No Comments

In a manner of speaking, military rulers have lifted the 31-year-old emergency laws that gave police far-reaching powers. The emergency powers can still be used to combat crimes committed by “thugs,” a term that the military failed to define. Rights groups and pro-democracy activists in the country have already voiced disdain for the declaration’s ambiguity. [read more]

Korean Peninsula: Kim Jong Il’s Death Leaves Region on Edge

Date: December 17th, 2011 |

No Comments

The death of North Korea’s enigmatic leader, Kim Jong Il, leaves in his place his youngest son, Kim Jong Un, a fair amount of uncertainty and a peninsula on high alert. As North Koreans adjust to their leader’s death, the South Korean government has put its military on high alert while simultaneously instructing citizens to [read more]

Russia: Opposition Protests in Moscow

Date: December 10th, 2011 |

No Comments

Protestors took to the streets in Moscow for two days of demonstrations Dec. 5-6, claiming that the Dec. 4 parliamentary election was corrupted. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party suffered losses, but opposition groups still maintain that the ruling party was involved in election fraud. Opposition protesters clashed with police in a show of [read more]

Italy: Thousands Protest Austerity Measures

Date: September 13th, 2011 |

No Comments

Tens of thousands of Italians took to the streets Sept. 6 to protest the government’s latest round of austerity measures. The strike resulted in the cancelation of flights, trains and buses and the closure of government offices. The Italian General Confederation of Labor (CGIL)—Italy’s largest union—called for the general strike and is demanding stronger action [read more]

United Kingdom: “No-go” areas, Curfews Expected to Clear Streets

Date: August 23rd, 2011 |

No Comments

Home Secretary Theresa May said the police may be given new powers that include the ability to create “no-go” areas for the public and to clear the streets through a general curfew. May cited the law that only allowed police to declare a general curfew after advanced warning, saying that new powers are needed to [read more]

Travel the World

More WTW

Monthly Archives