Travel Update-Weekly Edition

July 26th, 2007

Airline News

 

Airport/Destination News 

 

 

 

 

 

State Dept Travel Warnings and Public announcements - For the full announcements or further detail on Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, please see  http://travel.state.gov/travel

China - Media reports issued on July 23 indicate that the Chinese government is allegedly collecting information on foreigners ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The Chinese government is reportedly concerned about the possibility of protests during the games, including protests against China's human rights records, its policies on Darfur and global warming. The media reports allege that the government is collecting information about foreigners who may participate in such protests, such as those who work for aid organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and Christian groups. There is particular concern that members of Christian organizations may try to proselytize during the games. The report comes after similar allegations on 10 July that the Chinese government recently expelled approximately 100 foreigners from the country in an effort to prevent them from conducting missionary activities during the games. Although the media reports cannot be independently verified, foreign travelers should never discuss political or religious issues while in China. In addition, the Chinese government allegedly conducts surveillance against foreign citizens and businesses, and foreigners should never consider their communications private.

 

Nigeria - On July 24, the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and U.S. Consulate General in Lagos issued a Warden Message, which reads in part as follows: "This Warden Message is being issued to inform American citizens of a relatively new scheme to defraud members of the public. This scheme appears to target the middle and upper classes of Nigerian society, as well as the expatriate community. It capitalizes on individual fears and perceptions with respect to the present security situation in Nigeria. "How it Works: A potential target receives a phone call or text message on his/her mobile phone saying that the caller/sender and his gang have been paid to kill the target or a member of his/her family. "The person is told he/she is receiving the warning because he/she is a nice person and the caller does not want to kill him/her. "The potential scam victim is then advised either to drop off a set amount of money in cash at a pre-designated spot, or to deposit the money in a bank account, or to send recharge cards of the same amount to a mobile number. The scammer will tell the potential target that his/her safety cannot be guaranteed if he/she does not pay as directed. "The individual is warned never to report this to the police, as his/her movements are being monitored by a member of the gang. "In the event that you receive this type of call/message, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria recommends that you take the following actions: "Remain calm; Attempt to gain as much information as you can about the caller; and Immediately report the call to the Nigerian police."

 

 

Last week, the Belgian Council of Ministries announced several adjustments to the Limosa declaration intended to ease the burden on business travel. The original regulations required corporations to declare the nature of an individual's business in the country, the origin of the business, and certain other financial disclosures for all nonresident employees in the country for more than five consecutive days per month. This information had to be provided in advance of every employment of a posted worker by electronic means to the National Social Security Office. The following newly announced exemptions are now allowed for:

• Workers who come to Belgium in order to attend a scientific congress are exempt from the obligation to make a prior declaration.
• Workers who come to Belgium to attend meetings in a closed circle are exempt to the extent that this participation does not exceed 60 calendar days a year and that this activity does not take longer than 20 calendar days per meeting.

For information on Limosa please contact the Belgain Council of Ministers in Brussels at +32 2 788.51.57 or limosa@eranova.fgov.be. 

 

Airline passengers will be allowed to bring most cigarette lighters on board again starting next month, freeing airport screeners to spend more time searching for explosives. And travelers without infants along will be allowed to carry more breast milk on planes to accommodate working mothers. Starting August 4, air travelers will be allowed to carry on disposable butane lighters, such as Bics, and refillable lighters, like Zippos, the Transportation Security Administration announced Friday. But torch-style lighters, which have hotter flames, will still be banned. The other rule change on August 4 applies to mothers -- or anyone -- wanting to bring more than 3 ounces of breast milk onto an airplane. Under current rules, the passenger carrying the milk must be accompanied by an infant, but the new rules drop that requirement. The liquid will still have to be declared to screeners who might request additional inspection.

 

TOP

Previous Updates

July 20, 2007
July 12, 2007
May 31, 2007
May 17, 2007
May 10, 2007
May 3, 2007
April 27, 2007
April 26, 2007
April 19, 2007
April 12, 2007
April 9, 2007

TOP