1. AUSTRALIA
Some 1,700 engineers for Qantas airlines are threatening to strike Jan. 9 in what would be the biggest disruption to Qantas operations since a 1989 strike. Qantas aircraft must be cleared for flight by a licensed engineer, so any strike would cause significant service disruption and possibly ground the entire fleet.
2. COSTA RICA
A year after a new tourist police force took to the streets, crime has come down in areas of the country frequented by foreigners. Reported crimes against tourists in 2007 compared to 2006 were down 36 percent in San Jose province, almost 34 percent in Guanacaste, and 33 percent in Limon. Other areas that saw significant drops were Alajuela (22 percent) and Heredia (13 percent).
3. GERMANY
A strike by 15,000 train engineers planned for Jan. 7 could cause chaos on Germany’s railways. Company officials feel they have lined up enough replacements to minimize the effects of the walkout if it occurs.
4. KENYA
Violence after disputed national elections occurred in Nairobi, the Rift Valley and the coastal resort of Mombasa, prompting the U.S. State Department to discourage all but essential travel to Kenya, and the British Foreign Office warned against travel to several specific areas, including downtown Nairobi.
5. UNITED KINGDOM
Virgin Atlantic cabin crews plan two 48-hour strikes beginning Jan. 9 and Jan. 16 in a pay dispute.
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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.
