Security issues

India: Kashmir Bouncing Back as Tourist Destination, Sunderbans Access May Get Easier

Date: July 16th, 2008 |

The long-troubled region of Kashmir is booming with tourists this summer, providing optimism that it is finally turning a page on the simmering insurgency that has made the area a war zone for two decades. Before the conflict began in 1989, 250,000 visitors came to Srinigar, the capital city; this year 400,000 have come in [read more]

Australia: Sydney Train System Crime Cleanup

Date: May 21st, 2008 |

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In a campaign to clean up crime on and around Sydney’s train system, authorities launched a crackdown involving 1600 rail and police officers who over three months seized 63 weapons and arrested 566 people for assault, theft and robbery. The campaign was prompted by figures that showed crime increasing 12 percent in 2007 to an [read more]

China and Tibet: Lockdown in Lhasa; Interpol Worries about Attacks in Beijing

Date: May 1st, 2008 |

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The Chinese government announced a lockdown on the Tibetan capital of Lhasa from May 1 to June 20 to prevent any disruption of the Olympic torch parade through Tibet. Residents of surrounding counties have been ordered not to enter the city, including farmers who would normally come to Lhasa to sell their produce, and all [read more]

Mexico: Narco-Violence Near U.S. Border; Private Plane Stolen from Americans

Date: April 17th, 2008 |

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The U.S. State Department reissued its travel alert for Mexico citing extensive violent criminal activity in northern areas near the U.S. border. The violence is driven by drug cartels fighting over the narcotics trade. Attacks usually target cartel members, police, criminal justice officials and journalists, but foreign visitors and residents, including Americans, have been kidnapped [read more]

United States: Amtrak to Begin Random Baggage Screening

Date: February 20th, 2008 |

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Using procedures similar to those applied on the New York City subway system, Amtrak began randomly screening passengers’ carry-on bags this week in its first significant visible increase in security in years. The new measures will be applied in the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington before being expanded to the rest of the country. [read more]

Belgium: Coastal Tram Fired Upon, Security Tightened

Date: July 10th, 2008 |

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Tram service that links Flemish coastal resorts will carry extra security guards after drivers went on strike to protest inadequate security. The strike occurred the day after a tram was shot at with a pellet gun between Wenduine and Blankenberge, the sixth such incident in the last few weeks. A window was broken but no [read more]

Malaysia: Tighter Security at Kuala Lumpur’s International Airport; Crackdown on Luggage Thieves at Hotels

Date: May 21st, 2008 |

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A specially trained police force is now patrolling Kuala Lumpur’s international airport in response to an armed robbery in April that saw bandits make off with $1 million worth of Singaporean currency. The robbers wounded five people when they held up two currency exchange workers. The new force of 141 officers is now on round-the-clock [read more]

Bolivia: “Highway of Death” Claims U.S. Mountain Biker

Date: April 23rd, 2008 |

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The North Yungas Road leading from La Paz to Coroico in the Amazon basin has been called “the most dangerous road in the world” and the “highway of death” because of its precipitous drop from the highlands to the Amazon jungle hugging cliffs for most of its 40-mile descent. But for all its danger, which [read more]

Peru: Plane Crash at Nazca Lines Prompts Call for Safety Measures

Date: April 17th, 2008 |

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Five French tourists died in a small plane crash en route to view the famed Nazca Lines April 10 when the pilot tried to return to the air strip shortly after takeoff. The accident prompted officials to seek tougher safety measures in the area where critics say supervision is lax for the 40 or so [read more]

European Union: Fingerprinting of Foreigners Traveling through Europe

Date: February 14th, 2008 |

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The Washington Post reported that on Feb. 13 the European Commission would propose fingerprinting of all travelers entering and leaving Europe, and if the European Parliament approves, the plan will be implemented but not for at least a year. The U.S. and Japan currently require foreigners to be photographed and digitally fingerprinted when they enter. [read more]