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A key leader of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, based in the Philippines, was among those killed by Philippine troops on a remote southern island in February. The militant leader was involved in the kidnapping of 21 people from a resort in Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia, in 2000.
Because of possible reprisals, the US Department of State is urging caution in areas of eastern Sabah, including the town of Semporna and the islands of Mabul and Sipadan.
A protest on Jan. 6 against Egypt’s policy of blocking smuggler tunnels and aid missions to Gaza erupted into violence and gunfire on the Gaza side of the border crossing in Rafa. There were demonstrations in Al-Arish, Egypt, as well. The US Embassy in Cairo advised travelers to avoid the northern Sinai region as well as areas with crowds assembling or heavy police presence.
In Niger on Feb. 18, a military junta seized control of the government and deposed president Mamadou Tandja and his ministers. A 4-hour gun battle at the presidential palace in Niamey ended with the captivity of Tandja and at least three soldiers dead.
President Tandja has been unpopular since he changed the constitution to extend his term of office by three years, delayed elections indefinitely and dissolved parliament when they protested. At press time, the new government had not set a date for new elections.
A major storm, named Xynthia, struck Western Europe on Feb. 27-28, killing at least 62 people, more than 50 of whom were on France’s southern seacoast, where ocean surges flooded the towns of l’Aguillon sur Mer and La Faute sur Mer. Xynthia caused death and damage in Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Germany as well.
Wind speeds of 108 mph were measured at the tip of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
An earthquake measuring 8.8 struck 30 miles off the central coast of Chile on Feb. 27, near Concepción, Talca and Santiago. At press time, it was known that more than 700 people had been killed and 1,500,000 buildings damaged.
Highway overpasses and bridges crumbled, the Pan-American Highway was severed and a terminal roof collapsed at the Santiago airport. Five people on nearby Robinson Crusoe island were killed by tsunami waves. More than 90 aftershocks (one as strong as 6.1) added to the damage.
Nine-day/eight-night cruise-tour, Dec. 20-28, 2010. (Children eight-plus.) Highlights: Tour Quito, ECUADOR/frigate birds, boobies, iguanas on North Seymour Island/sea lions and albatross on Punta Suarez/snorkel with sea lions and turtles at Santiago Island. From $10,495. Single supp., from $6,995.
Butterfield & Robinson (70 Bond St., 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON, M58 1X3, Canada; 866/551-9090).
Eight days/six nights. Highlights: Ruins of Tiahuanco/Lake Titicaca/hydrofoil excursion to Copacabana/meet a shaman who reads fortunes in coca leaves/city tour of La Paz, Open Air Museum. From Miami, from $2,392. Single supp., from $558.
Tara Tours (Miami, FL; 800/327-0080).
Nine-day/eight-night tour includes up to six hours’ riding per day. (Weight limit, 200 pounds.) Highlights: In the Waterberg Mountains, ride to see rhinos/at Mashatu Reserve in BOTSWANA, ride plains where elephants, leopards and game live. Land, $3,470. Single supp., $1,735. Transfers, $505.
Equitours (Dubois, WY; 800/545-0019).
14 days/13 nights. Highlights: Great Alabaster Sphinx in Memphis/pyramids, Sphinx in Giza/Nile cruise to Luxor, Karnak, Valley of the Kings/Salah el Din Citadel in Cairo/in JORDAN, Greco-Roman Jerash/Petra/12th-century Crusader fortresses of Shobak and Kerak. Land and cruise, from $3,325. From New York, from $4,530. Single supp., from $765.
Grand European Tours (800/552-5545).
11-day/10-night tour, “easy to moderate” (two to three hours’ walking per day). Highlights: Kyoto/Mt. Koya, home to 100 monasteries/soak in a hot spring in Akame/Edo-era Nakasendo Trail/visit lacquerware artisan in Hirasawa/in Tokyo, Ginza shopping district, Meiji Shrine. Land, $4,995. Single supp., $500.
Mountain Travel Sobek (Emeryville, CA; 888/831-7526).