Security issues

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

Date: May 1st, 2008 |

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]

Mexico: Kidnapping of U.S. Citizens Up in Baja

Date: February 14th, 2008 |

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Kidnapping of U.S. citizens in Tijuana, Rosarito Beach and Ensenada has increased in the past year, with some 26 San Diego County residents taken hostage in 2007 compared to 11 in 2006. Most of the victims had business interests or family members in Mexico and thus were attractive targets, but all visitors should use common [read more]

Egypt, Gaza, Israel: Border Crisis Stirs Tensions Between Egypt, Hamas, Palestinian Authority

Date: January 30th, 2008 |

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Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians poured into Egypt after Hamas militants blew open the border partition between Gaza and the Egyptian city of Rafah Jan. 23, relieving tensions in Gaza but creating tensions in Egypt. For the past six months Gaza has been blockaded by Israel because of almost daily rocket attacks on Israeli border [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]

Kenya: Violence Prompts Peace Corps to Suspend Operations

Date: February 7th, 2008 |

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Ongoing post-election violence that has often become ethnic prompted the U.S. Peace Corps to suspend its operations in Kenya. The Peace Corps announced the decision Feb. 5 to withdraw its remaining 58 volunteers after sending home 86 in January. Tourism has dropped to a trickle and foreign companies are considering pulling out, which would deal [read more]

India: Government to Deploy Retired Military to Protect Foreign Tourists

Date: January 30th, 2008 |

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Still reeling from a series of sexual assaults on foreign women in recent weeks, India’s federal government has decided to deploy thousands of retired defense personnel to provide security for foreign tourists. Some 60,000 servicemen retire each year. Dedicated security phone numbers will be introduced in all major tourist areas, and the courts will put [read more]