AUSTRALIA
A German woman and her friends ignored signs about crocodile-infested waters in Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory and went for an evening swim. She was killed but the others survived. Authorities are increasingly concerned that foreigners are taking unnecessary risks, including Outback travel without sufficient supplies to survive an emergency.
FRANCE
A harsh new anti-crime bill was approved by the French cabinet and is expected to be passed by Parliament. The law will, among other things, ban beggars and Gypsies from using aggressive tactics or working in groups.
UKRAINE
There is little street crime in Ukraine, but when incidents do occur, foreign visitors, perceived to be wealthier than local residents, are usually the targets. Credit card and ATM fraud is widespread, so use is not recommended.
PHILIPPINES
A number of violent incidents have occurred in recent weeks in Metro Manila and areas of the southern Philippines. A bomb on a bus in Manila killed three and injured many others Oct. 18, and a grenade exploded at a main intersection in the Makati commercial district that same day. In the south, the Abu Sayyaf Group has shown its ability to travel over long distances by boat to kidnap foreigners and locals, so travelers should avoid isolated islands in the southern Philippines. Violent incidents have also occurred recently in central, southern and western Mindanao.
