TripNewsWire.com
TripNewsWire.com 
A World of Info for Global Travelers                 




Passport fees  increased July 13

New passport fees for the U.S. Passport Book, the U.S. Passport Card, and other passport services went into effect on Tuesday, July 13, 2010.  If applying for or renewing a passport after this date, visit the fees page on U.S. State Department site to learn the right fee so you don't slow down your application.


U.S. Pass
port Agencies  an Option
When Traveling Within Two Weeks

If you need a passport in a hurry - less than two weeks - below is a list of U.S. Passport Agency websites where you can see how to make an appointment to apply for a new or renewed passport in person.

For more detailed info,
go to TripNewsWire's
Passports and Visas page for their address, phone and hours.


Or, if you prefer to have a private agency do it for you, check out PassportsandVisas.com



Did you know?

U.S. Territories - No Passport Required

No passport is required for U.S. citizens to travel to the U.S. commonwealths and territories such as Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands -  St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas - as well as the following islands:
  • American Samoa
  • Baker Island
  • Howland Island
  • Guam
  • Jarvis Island
  • Johnston Atoll
  • Kingman Reef
  • Midway Islands
  • Navassa Island
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Palau
  • Palmyra Atoll
  • Wake Island.
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Puerto Rico Passes New Birth Certificate Law

So far, will not affect
their U.S. passports

The Puerto Rican government has passed a new law that will invalidate all Puerto Rican birth certificates starting July 1, 2010.

The Department of State is currently accepting Puerto Rican birth certificates for passport services and will do so until further policy is announced. The new law does not affect individuals who currently have United States passports.

For more information on the Puerto Rican birth certificate law, please visit the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration website:

http://www.prfaa.com/birthcertificates/.





Canada changes
refugee laws


Visiting Canada: Who is eligible

To visit Canada, you must:

  • have a valid travel document, such as a passport
  • be in good health
  • satisfy an immigration officer that you have ties, such as a job, home and family, that will take you back to your country of origin
  • satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit and
  • have enough money for your stay. The amount of money you will need can vary with the circumstances of the visit, how long you will stay and whether you will stay in a hotel or with friends or relatives. For more information, ask the Canadian visa office in your country or region.

You may also need:

  • a Temporary Resident Visa, depending on your citizenship (see Visas and Exemptions below)
  • a medical examination and
  • a letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.

Travel documents

Transport companies, such as airlines, must ensure you have proper, valid travel documents when you enter Canada. If you do not have the proper documents, you may be delayed or denied boarding.

On March 11, 2010, CIC amended the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to clarify the factors used to determine which travel documents can be used to apply for a visa, and to travel to or enter Canada.

Under the new Regulations, the following travel documents are considered unreliable and are not acceptable for entry into Canada:

  • any passport claiming to have been issued by Somalia,
  • non-machine readable passports issued by the Czech Republic,
  • temporary passports issued by the Republic of South Africa, and
  • provisional passports issued by Venezuela.

This list is subject to change. Check it regularly for up-to-date information.

Visas and exemptions

You may or may not need a Temporary Resident Visa to visit Canada, depending on your citizenship. Even if you are exempt, though, there is important information you need to know before you plan your trip.

If you need a visa, see How to Apply for a Visa in the Learn About section below to find out how to get your visa.

If you do not need a visa, see Visa Exempt – Important Information for Travellers in the Learn About section below.

If you are not sure, see Do You Need a Visa? in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.

Inadmissibility

Some people are inadmissible—they are not allowed to come to Canada. Several things can make you inadmissible, including involvement in criminal activity, in human rights violations or in organized crime. You can also be inadmissible for security, health or financial reasons.

Criminal inadmissibility

If you have committed or been convicted of a criminal offence, you may not be allowed to enter Canada.

Criminal offences include both minor and serious offences, such as theft, assault, manslaughter, dangerous driving and driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. For a complete list of criminal offences in Canada, consult the Canadian Criminal Code.

If you were convicted of a crime when you were under the age of 18, you can probably still enter Canada. See the Related Links at the bottom of this page for more information about admissibility.









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FreeTranslation.com has partnered with Transparent Language to bring together a comprehensive collection of learning resources for people who are learning a language.

Specially designed for those learning a language, you will find the BYKI™ 'Word Of the Day', learning cards, language and local culture blogs, survival phrases, online tests, as well as online games.

So whether you are French, German or searching Spanish survival phrases, you can get free express software to help with learning a language, and access to discounts on complete language learning packages. Language learning resources are available if you are learning Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish.

FreeTranslation.com also offers the ability to translate words and phrases online from English into these languages, as well as instantly translate many languages into English.











 

The TSA Blog

The following is a recent blog from the TSA which TripNewsWire finds useful to world travelers

TSA Goes Mobile 07.26.2010

Whether you fly twice a month or a few times a year, if you get injured on vacation, lose your ID, or pick up a special souvenir on a trip, you might need information to help you get through the security checkpoint. We know that sometimes those questions come late at night, on a weekend, or right before you leave for your trip, so you don’t have a lot of time to get the answer.
So to help travelers get the information they might need quickly and easily, we launched the MyTSA mobile web app and iPhone app to put the information you need right at your fingertips.

To get the iPhone app, you can download MyTSA on iTunes for free, or look for it on the USA.gov Apps gallery. You can find MyTSA on your smart phone at www.tsa.gov/mobile.

On the iPhone app, you can choose to enable the GPS function, which will automatically pull up information from the nearest large airport. If you'd rather not enable GPS, the GPS doesn’t pull up the airport nearest you, or you want to search for a specific airport, you can decline and enter an airport manually. On the mobile web app, you just enter your airport manually.

The “Airport Status” function provides general airport conditions and delays for U.S. airports, courtesy of the Federal Aviation Administration. On the iPhone, you’ll see a map with red, yellow and green dots to note airport statuses and when you click on the dot, you’ll get delay information. On the mobile web version, you’ll get a list of airports with delays, or you can search by specific airport.

The “Can I Bring” tool was designed to answer the most commonly asked questions to TSA’s Contact Center about items passengers want to bring onto a plane. These questions make up about 70% of the calls and e-mails to the Contact Center, so by pushing this information out and making it available 24/7, we hope to reduce the time and energy for people to get the information they need, and save some TSA resources while we’re at it. Just enter the item you want to pack, and the tool will tell you if it’s permitted and which bag you should put it in.

Here are some tips to get the most out of the tool:
  • Just type the item, for example, “baseball bat” – don’t include “my,” “a.”
  • Only enter one item at a time.
  • Make sure you’ve spelled the item correctly.
  • Enter “deodorant” instead of “Old Spice Deodorant.” In most cases, avoid brand names.
  • Instead of typing a general item like “food,” be more specific and type “apple,” “sandwich,” or “yogurt.”
If you type an item and it’s not in the database, you can submit it to TSA for consideration. We update the database regularly.

The “TSA Guide” includes information on TSA’s liquids rules, information on IDs, and tips for military travelers, travelers with children and those with special needs.

Lastly, the app enables travelers to see wait time information posted by other travelers, and return the favor by posting their wait time. Calculate your wait time by noting how long it takes from when you get in line to when you get your travel documents checked.

We’re looking at feedback to continually improve it so that it meets travelers’ needs, and will keep you posted on improvements here on the blog.

Lynn
TSA Blog Team

Volcanoes, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural travel disasters

Tropical storms,  hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and even volcanoes can cause  travel interruptions and air traffic delays -- reason to really check your destination's current weather and read up on what to do if caught in weather -- before you go.  

 The U.S. State Department has issued a current hurricane season warning
that tells travelers what to do when traveling overseas and a hurricane hits.

Our World Weather page has links to the weather centers in specific countries, plus the Pacific Disaster Center has news  and maps of impending world disasters. The USGS Hazards page has updates for U.S. situations and if you like to see things as they happen, NASA has a site with great live photos.

Although the widespread travel disruption caused by the Iceland volcano is over, at least for now, T
ripNewsWire says take note - U.S. embassies throughout Europe offered assistance to U.S. citizens during the crisis and are there to help you if something similar happens again. Check out our U.S. Embassies Overseas page and go to the embassy page of the country you are traveling to - write down their address and phone number, just to have in case you can't get to the internet when abroad.

And if traveling to a region affected by a natural disaster,
TripNewsWire says call your airline first to check schedules - if your flight has been canceled ask to be "reaccommodated" to the next flight or "protected" on another airline. 



 
Is there an entry tax? Do I need a visa?


TripNewsWire was created to provide quick, easy to understand answers to your world travel questions.

For example, Argentina recently  joined Chile in charging a hefty $131 entry tax to U.S. citizens upon arrival. Called a "reciprocal" tax since we charge them the same amount to come to the U.S., the tax is and payable by credit card - whew - and good for 10 years,  still a shocker if you didn't check with your airline or a consulate beforehand.

So we say check the rules for entry taxes, visas, customs, etc. at the time of booking and again the day before you go.

The best place to go for this info is the country's embassy or consulate web page - not always easy to find online.

So on
TripNewsWire, we have a list of foreign embassies in D.C. as well as some of the major country's foreign consulates in the U.S.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Centre website enables you to type in your destination to find out a number of useful travel facts --  airport taxes, currencies, what documents you need and other basic travel information all in one fell swoop. This is what most of the airlines use when you call them for international document requirements.

The U.S. State Department also has A to Z Country Specific Information about visas, taxes, news and other travel questions -  although be certain to go to this link vs. the other A to Z link that simply has a map and flag on it. The country specific link is also good for looking up current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts. 





















Tips for Traveling Abroad

The U.S. State Department provides  detailed information about steps you can take to ensure a safe trip, see How to Have a Safe Trip.  Meanwhile, here are some quick tips to make your travel easier and safer:  
  • Register so the State Department can better assist you in an emergency:  Register your travel plans  with the State Department through a free online service at https://travelregistration.state.gov.  This will help us contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or if there is a crisis where you are traveling.  In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts will not be released to others without your express authorization.

  • Sign passport, and fill in the emergency information:  Make sure you have a signed, valid passport, and a visa, if required, and fill in the emergency information page of your passport.

  • Leave copies of itinerary and passport data page:  Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends, so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

  • Check your overseas medical insurance coverage:  Ask your medical insurance company if your policy applies overseas, and if it covers emergency expenses such as medical evacuation.  If it does not, consider supplemental insurance.

  • Familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws:   While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws.  The State Department web site at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html has useful safety and other information about the countries you will visit. 

  • Take precautions to avoid being a target of crime:  To avoid being a target of crime, do not wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money.  Also, do not leave unattended luggage in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.

  • Contact us in an emergency: Consular personnel at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad and in the U.S. are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens.  Contact information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates appears on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov.  Also note that the Office of Overseas Citizen Services in the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs may be reached for assistance with emergencies at 1-888-407-4747, if calling from the U.S. or Canada, or 202-501-4444, if calling from overseas.


  U.S. State    Department
  Issues 
Travel Warnings
for Korea, Mexico

Below are recent
travel
warnings 

issued by the U.S. State Department for U.S. citizens traveling abroad

Mexico

Travel Warning

August 27, 2010

The Department of State has issued this Travel Warning to inform U.S. citizens traveling to and living in Mexico about the security situation in Mexico.  The authorized departure of family members of U.S. government personnel from U.S. Consulates in the northern Mexico border cities of Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros remains in place.  However, based upon a security review in Monterrey following the August 20, 2010 shooting in front of the American Foundation School in Monterrey and the high incidence of kidnappings in the Monterrey area, U.S. government personnel from the Consulate General in Monterrey have been advised that the immediate, practical and reliable way to reduce the security risks for children of U.S. Government personnel is to remove them from the city.  Beginning September 10, 2010, the Consulate General in Monterrey will become a partially unaccompanied post with no minor dependents of U.S. government employees. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Mexico dated July 16, 2010 to note the changing security situation in Monterrey. Read More

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Travel Warning

August 27, 2010

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against entering North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or DPRK), without first having received explicit official permission and an entry visa from the Government of North Korea.  The North Korean government will prosecute and sentence those who enter the DPRK without proper documentation.  North Korea's penalties for knowingly or unknowingly violating North Korean laws are much harsher than are those in the United States for similar offenses.  The Government of North Korea imposes heavy fines and long prison sentences with hard labor on persons who enter the country without a valid passport and a North Korean visa.  The United States and the DPRK do not have diplomatic and consular relations. 

Travel by U.S. citizens to North Korea is not routine, and U.S. citizens crossing into North Korea without proper documentation, even accidently, have been subject to arrest and long-term detention.  Since January 2009, four U.S. citizens have been arrested for entering North Korea without the necessary documents.  Three were charged with illegal entry and "crimes against the State."  Three were sentenced to long prison terms with hard labor under hazardous conditions, and one also received a significant fine.

Since the United States does not maintain diplomatic or consular relations with North Korea, the U.S. Government cannot provide normal consular services to its citizens in North Korea.  The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang is the U.S. Protecting Power in North Korea.  It provides limited consular services to U.S. citizens traveling in North Korea who are ill, injured, arrested, or who have died while there.  As with other host nations, consular officials cannot obtain the release of U.S. citizens from the host government’s judicial system, i.e., release citizens from foreign prisons, influence the outcome of trials or pay criminal fines.

Even if you are a U.S. citizen entering North Korea with a valid passport and a valid visa for North Korea, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned for knowingly or unknowingly violating the laws of North Korea.  Foreign visitors to North Korea may be arrested, detained, or expelled for activities that would not be considered criminal in the United States, including involvement in unsanctioned religious and political activities, engaging in unauthorized travel, or interaction with the local population.  If you travel unescorted inside North Korea without explicit official authorization, North Korean security personnel may view your actions as espionage.  Security personnel may also view any unauthorized attempt you make to talk to a North Korean citizen as espionage.  North Korean authorities may fine or arrest you for unauthorized currency transactions or for shopping at stores not designated for foreigners.

North Korean authorities have detained foreign nationals who questioned the policies, public statements, or the actions of the current or former leadership of North Korea.  North Korean authorities may also view taking unauthorized pictures as espionage, confiscate cameras and film, and/or detain the photographer.  North Korean border officials routinely confiscate visitors’ cell phones upon arrival, returning the phone only upon departure. 

The Department strongly encourages U.S. citizens traveling to North Korea to register through the State Department's travel registration website at http://travel.state.gov.  U.S. citizens should consult the Department of State’s Country Specific InformationWorldwide Caution, which are located on the Department’s Internet travel website.  U.S. citizens may also obtain updated information on travel and security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, from outside the United States and Canada, +1-202-501-4444.


Afghanistan

Travel Warning

August 13, 2010

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Afghanistan.  The security threat to all U.S. citizens in Afghanistan remains critical.   This supersedes the Travel Warning for Afghanistan issued May 25, 2010, to remind U.S. citizens of ongoing security risks, including kidnapping and insurgent attacks.  Read More

Russian Federation

Travel Warning

August 10, 2010

The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risk of travel to the Russian Federation due to the ongoing wildfires.   The Department of State has authorized the departure of dependents and non-critical mission personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.  The Russian Government has declared a state of emergency in specific regions of the country, including the capital of Russia, Moscow.  Air travel to Russia, including international flights, is affected.  U.S. citizens are therefore urged to postpone travel to the Russian Federation until the situation has improved.  Read More

Mauritania

Travel Warning

August 2, 2010

The U.S. Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens of the risks of traveling to Mauritania, and urges extreme caution when traveling there due to increased activities by the terrorist group Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). AQIM continues to demonstrate its intent and ability to conduct attacks against foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens. The U.S. Department of State also recommends against all non-essential travel to the Hodh El Charghi region, the eastern half of the Tagant region, as well as the Zemmour region of Mauritania, and strongly discourages travel to unpopulated areas of eastern Mauritania. Faith-based organizations operating in Mauritania, regardless of location, may also be particularly targeted. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning for Mauritania, which was issued on December 2, 2009, to update information on security incidents and remind travelers of security concerns. Read More

Mali 

Travel Warning

July 29, 2010

The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risk of travel to Mali, and continues to recommend against all travel to the north of the country due to the kidnapping threats against Westerners. This replaces the Travel Warning for Mali dated November 19, 2009 to update security and threat information. Read More

Pakistan

Travel Warning

July 22, 2010

The State Department warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Pakistan.  This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning dated January 7, 2010, updates information on security incidents and reminds U.S. citizens of ongoing security concerns in Pakistan.

Pakistani military forces have engaged in a campaign against violent extremist elements across many areas of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPk) province.  Terrorists blame the Pakistani and the U.S. governments for the military pressure on their traditional havens and the death of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader- Baitullah Mehsud- in NWFP in August 2009.  In response, militants are seeking to increase their attacks on civilian, government, and foreign targets in Pakistan's cities.  Read More

Uzbekistan


Travel Warning

July 22, 2010

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens that the potential for a terrorist attack or localized civil disturbance still exists in Uzbekistan.  The Department of State continues to urge U.S. citizens in Uzbekistan to exercise caution when traveling in the region.  This supersedes the Travel Warning dated June 16, 2009, to update information on security incidents.  Read More

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico

Travel Warning

July 16, 2010

The Department of State has issued this Travel Warning to inform U.S. citizens traveling to and living in Mexico about the security situation in Mexico.  The authorized departure of family members of U.S. government personnel from U.S. Consulates in the northern Mexico border cities of Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros remains in place. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Mexico dated May 6, 2010 to note the extension of authorized departure and to update guidance on security conditions and crime. Millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year. This includes tens of thousands who cross the border every day for study, tourism or business and at least one million U.S. citizens who live in Mexico. Read More

 

 

 

 

 

Travel Alerts have  also been issued by the U.S. State Department for China, Kenya and Uganda, For more information, go to the State Department Travel Alert page here.  And for additional information on Travel Warnings, visit the Travel Warning page here


Jamaica


Travel Ale
rt

June 24, 2010

The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens about sporadic violence between government security forces and criminal gang elements in Kingston, Jamaica, and its surrounding areas. Since May 23, 2010, Jamaican security forces have been engaged in operations to root out illegal weapons in formerly gang-controlled neighborhoods and apprehend suspected gang members in various areas of Kingston and Spanish Town. The Government of Jamaica has imposed a State of Emergency in Kingston, St. Andrew, and St. Catherine’s Parish (which includes Spanish Town). The possibility exists that police operations and/or violence could spread beyond the greater Kingston and Spanish Town areas. This Travel Alert replaces the Travel Alert issued on June 15, 2010 to provide updated information on the security and airport situation. This Travel Alert expires on July 23, 2010. Read More

Haiti

Travel Ale
rt

June 24, 2010

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the situation in Haiti in the aftermath of the January 12 earthquake that struck near Port-au-Prince.  This replaces the Travel Warning for Haiti dated March 15, 2010, and provides updated information for U.S. citizens in Haiti.

The Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Haiti. The January 12 earthquake caused significant damage to key infrastructure and access to basic services remains limited.  The country continues to
experience shortages of food, drinking water, transportation and adequate shelter.  The earthquake significantly reduced the capacity of Port-au-Prince’s medical facilities and inadequate public sanitation poses serious health risks.  While the Embassy's ability to provide emergency consular services has improved in the months following the earthquake, it is still limited.  The level of violent crime in Port-au-Prince, including murder and kidnapping, remains high. Read More

 

Israel

Travel Warning 

Aug. 10, 2010

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of traveling to Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, and about threats to themselves and to U.S. interests in those locations.  The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to remain mindful of security factors when planning travel to Israel and the West Bank and to avoid all travel to the Gaza Strip.  This replaces the Travel Warning issued August 5, 2010, to update information on the general security environment in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.  Read More

Guinea

Travel Warning
 

June 16, 2010

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Guinea as the political situation there remains unpredictable.  Although Guinea has been relatively calm since January 15, the potential for violence persists. U.S. citizens are advised that, although the U.S. Embassy in Conakry returned to full staffing on March 29 after a six-month evacuation of family members and non-emergency staff, minor children of U.S. citizen employees of the Embassy will not be returning to Guinea at present. Read More

 
Nepal

Travel Warning

June 15, 2010

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the potential risks of traveling to Nepal and urges caution when traveling in that country. The Department of State remains concerned about the security situation in Nepal. U.S. citizens are urged to obtain updated security information before traveling and they should be prepared to change their plans on short notice. This replaces the Travel Warning for Nepal dated November 19, 2009, to update information on the security and political situation, and to advise travelers about the continuing possibility of political demonstrations and unrest. Read More

Nigeria

Travel Warning

June 15, 2010

The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Nigeria and continues to recommend U.S. citizens to avoid all but essential travel to the Niger Delta states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers; the Southeastern states of Abia, Edo, and Imo; and the city of Jos in Plateau State, because of the risks of kidnapping, robbery, and other armed attacks in these areas. Violent crime committed by individuals and gangs, as well as by persons wearing police and military uniforms, is a problem throughout the
country.  This replaces the Travel Warning for Nigeria dated May 24, 2010, to update information on violent activity and crime in Nigeria. Read More

   Thailand

Travel Warning

May 27, 2010

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in Thailand of recent political demonstrations and unrest in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Due to recent violence in central Bangkok, demonstrations in Chiang Mai, and other incidents throughout Thailand, the Department of State recommends against non-essential travel to Thailand at this time.  The Department of State earlier authorized the departure of all non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members from Bangkok.  This replaces the Travel Warning dated May 15, 2010, to provide updated information on the security situation in Thailand. Read More

       Burundi

Travel Warning

May 19, 2010

The State Department warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Burundi before, during, and after nationwide elections scheduled from May to September 2010. This notice replaces the Travel Warning for Burundi, dated July 22, 2009, to provide information regarding travel to and within Burundi during the election period, as well as revised information on security restrictions for Embassy personnel.  

Burundi was plagued by a civil war from 1993 to 2006 that often involved non-governmental and non-combatant targets.  In December 2008, the government and the last rebel group, the PALIPEHUTU–FNL, signed their final cease-fire agreement. The rebels have since demobilized and were transitioned into an officially-recognized political party known only as the FNL. In the past, Burundi has experienced violence in Bujumbura and other areas of the country throughout campaign seasons, elections, and in the weeks following the announcements of election results. Read More

Cote D'Ivoire

Travel Warning

May 12, 2010

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the continued risks of traveling to Cote d’Ivoire and urges them to exercise caution while traveling there.  This replaces the Travel Warning for Cote d’Ivoire dated September 22, 2009 to update information on the security and political situation, and to advise of the increased probability of political demonstrations and unrest.  Read More

Niger

Travel Warning

May 11, 2010

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Niger and recommends against all travel to the north of the country due to kidnapping threats against Westerners.   

Al-Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), a terrorist group, continues its attempts to kidnap Westerners, including U.S. citizens in Niger, and has been successful in kidnapping Europeans in the region. On April 20, a French citizen was kidnapped by a group affiliated with AQIM in a location west of Agadez.  In November 2009, heavily armed individuals attempted to kidnap U.S. embassy officials in Tahoua.    Read More

Georgia

Travel Warning

May 03, 2010

The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to certain areas of Georgia. This Travel Warning replaces the one dated April 9, 2009, and updates advice to U.S. citizens in Georgia.

American citizens are urged not to travel to the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and to be aware that the potential exists for gunfire, increased risk of crime, and ongoing potential for violence in these and areas adjacent to these regions. Read More




 
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