Argentina
After denying a severe outbreak, Argentina’s health minister acknowledged a dengue fever epidemic. Nearly 8,000 people are reported infected, with the northern province of Chaco having almost half of those cases. Argentina’s epidemic has been linked to those in neighboring Bolivia and Brazil.
Egypt
Authorities found explosives and bombmaking materials they said had been smuggled into Egypt by Hezbollah agents to use against Israeli tourists in southern Sinai resorts. The announcement came after repeated warnings by Israeli authorities for Israelis to avoid resorts in Sinai for fear of such attacks. A Hezbollah spokesman acknowledged that an agent had smuggled in the materials but for attacks against Israel, not tourists in the Sinai.
Fiji
Fiji’s Court of Appeals ruled that the government of Frank Bainimarama, a naval commodore who seized power in 2006, is illegal. He responded by imposing a state of emergency, abolishing the constitution, firing all judges, expelling foreign journalists, posting censors in domestic newsrooms and cracking down on Internet use. He said he would hold elections in 2014 after rewriting the constitution. Whether these moves spark unrest remains to be seen.
Guatemala
Authorities in Guatemala City banned passengers from motorcycles in an effort to stop criminal attacks. Extortion gangs use motorcycles to enforce demands for money from bus drivers because their gunmen can ride on the back and easily escape in dense traffic. More than 60 bus drivers or their assistants have been shot this year.
More Top Picks Best Vibrating Alarm Clocks For Deep Sleepers
Thailand
Several days of protests in Bangkok ended Tuesday, when troops surrounded a crowd of 2,000 demonstrators and persuaded them to go home. The protesters, supporters of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, had besieged the prime minister’s residence for 2 1/2 weeks and plunged Bangkok into chaos last weekend. Another group of protesters in Pattaya forced officials to cancel a major Asian summit. The government imposed a state of emergency in Bangkok to control the protests and did so with the loss of two lives, attributed to clashes between protesters and residents. The emergency remained in place to prevent further unrest. The pro-Thaksin protests dealt another blow to Thailand’s prospects for tourism and business development.
———-
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.