1. CHINA
Tourist activities at the Great Wall may be restricted as officials implement a general plan for China’s top tourist sites. The plan calls for no more than 53,300 daily tourist visitors and a limit of 16 million annually to Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tombs. Other attractions such as Juyongguan Great Wall and Yinshan Talin will also have limits.
2. FRANCE
Crime around the Champs-Elysees, perhaps the world’s most famous avenue, has increased dramatically in recent years. A report released by France’s National Crime Observatory showed that in Paris’ 8th arrondissement, the district that includes the Champs-Elysees, personal assaults were up 32 percent; cases of violence without theft were up 93 percent; reports of threatening behavior were up almost 49 percent.
3. INDIA
Five bomb blasts occurred almost simultaneously in three cities Nov. 23, killing at least 13 people in Varanasi, Lucknow and Faizabad. A group claiming responsibility said they were retaliating for injustice to Muslims in India.
4. MEXICO
The routes to popular but remote surfing spots in northern Baja California were the sites of at least six armed robberies in the past five months, numbers that authorities feel may be low because they believe many incidents go unreported. Longtime travelers to the area recommend staying only in campgrounds that have security guards and traveling in convoys of at least two but as many vehicles as possible.
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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.
