Canada
Tightened security for the G-20 Summit next weekend will make moving around downtown Toronto difficult. Street closures will be enforced in the core area around the Metro Convention Center on Front Street, and police will have authority to close roads and highways with 15 minutes’ notice. Travel to and from the airport may take considerably longer than usual because police will close highways for motorcades of summit attendees. Trains will stop short of Union Station between Thursday and Sunday to avoid congestion.
Colombia
Medellin may be reverting to its old, violent ways. The city once known for drug king Pablo Escobar and narcotics violence went through a renaissance, making it one of Colombia’s most popular and cultured cities, often referred to as the Miracle of Medellin. But now drug gangs are fighting a turf war in Comuna 13, a neighborhood in the hills that surround the city. About 500 murders have been reported in the last three months, many of the victims youths who had been recruited by gangs.
Ecuador
The U.S. Embassy in Quito issued a notice Monday to remind travelers that the crime rate in Ecuador is very high and crime is often violent. Such crime is not restricted to Quito or Guayaquil but also occurs in smaller cities such as Otavalo, Manta and Cuenca, where thieves and small gangs are sometimes armed with guns or knives. The low rate of arrest and conviction contributes to the high crime rate. The government has increased police patrols in tourist areas, but additional officers cannot ensure elimination of all street crime. In other news, the Tungurahua volcano near Quito quieted down dramatically.
Greece
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After a series of strikes by various unions over several weeks, including riots in Athens that depressed tourist numbers, now the country’s major union representing tourism workers plans to strike for 24 hours June 30. Union members include hotel and restaurant workers. In other news, hospitals throughout the country are running short of supplies because the government owes suppliers 5.2 billion euros. Until a payment plan is in place, suppliers may provide only basic items to hospitals.
Togo
Noting armed robberies on Lome’s beaches at all hours, the U.S. Embassy there advised using only private beaches that provide security. Thefts from vehicles stopped in traffic also have increased.