1. BOLIVIA
Alleged corruption at Bolivia’s busiest international airport in Santa Cruz prompted an airport closure, an army takeover to reopen it, and a popular uprising to force the army to pull back Oct. 19. Several aircraft, including an American Airlines jet, were detained until troops intervened.
2. ECUADOR
Tungurahua Volcano, about 85 miles south of Quito near Banos, has been showing increased seismic activity and limited emissions of gas and ash. Geologists do not consider Tungurahua an immediate threat.
3. FRANCE
Sixty percent of Air France flight attendants plan to strike Oct. 28-29 unless talks between the union and management resolve their dispute. The walkout is likely to cause flight delays and cancellations, particularly at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle and Orly Airports. The strike will also affect Air France’s partner KLM.
4. SRI LANKA
Travel to northern and eastern Sri Lanka remains risky because of ongoing conflict between the armed forces and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels. The LTTE attacked an army camp in Yala National Wildlife Sanctuary Oct. 15, killing six soldiers. This attack took place in a tourist area, but no tourists were targeted or injured.
5. TURKEY
Outrage over a Kurdish attack that killed 12 Turkish soldiers near the Iraqi border prompted spontaneous protests against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) all over the country Oct. 21-22.
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Compiled from various news services and travel sources. For the latest on world conditions, check the State Department’s automated service at 888-407-4747; fax 202-647-3000; travel.state.gov.
