GREECE
In the first two weeks of the year, anarchists have committed nearly a dozen arson attacks in Athens, exploding incendiary devices that have caused significant property damage but no injuries or deaths. The targets were government and political offices, but one attack destroyed a Finnish diplomat’s car and home, although police do not believe the attack was directed at the Finnish government. Such attacks do not usually affect tourists, but avoiding government buildings at night would be prudent.
IRAN
In an attempt to increase tourism and perhaps mitigate its increasing pariah status in the international community, Iran will begin issuing 15-day tourist visas to all foreign nationals upon arrival, except Israelis.
ITALY
The Winter Olympics will take place in Turin Feb. 10-26, and a truce between the government and trade unions should assure that the games won’t be hampered by strikes. Pilots and flight attendants for Alitalia, however, are still threatening to strike Feb. 9 and 10. In other news, Flor-ence’s main airport will be shut down for two months, Feb. 2-April 2, to accommodate engineering work. Flights to Florence will be diverted to Pisa, about 50 miles away.
TURKEY
Bird flu has been confirmed in 18 human cases with three deaths in Dogubeyazit in Agri province near the eastern border. For travelers there is little risk if you stay away from live birds and poultry markets, and handle poultry products carefully.
UK
Britain is planning domestic spying on a level previously only imagined: recording every car driving on Britain’s roads. Extensive camera surveillance has been common on the nation’s highways for years, but now the network will be expanded with the intention of recording some 50 million license plates a day and storing the date, time and place in computers for two years. In regional tests the program increased crime solving by a factor of ten. Authorities plan to use the system to combat crime and terrorism.
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For the latest on world conditions, check the State Department’s automated service at 888-407-4747; fax 202-647-3000; travel.state.gov.
