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Upcoming Events Worldwide

 
 JazzFest Berlin, Germany, 5 - 9 November 2008
The Berlin Jazz Festival is one of the world's premier jazz festivals and the highlight on the Berlin musical calendar, with concerts taking place all over town. 
 
 Pirates Week Festival, Cayman Islands, 6 - 16 November 2008
The Pirates invade George Town for a fiesta of music, dancing, costumes, food, drink and fireworks. Pirate Week is a one of a kind and the only place to celebrate the colourful characters of the past is in the warm sun of the Caribbean.
 
 Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, Big Island, 7 - 16 November 2008
Hawaii's oldest food festival is celebrated in the heartland of American coffee country, the town of Kailua-Kona, from where the famous liqueur derives its name. The festival has numerous other associated events including parades, art exhibitions, races, golf and cultural workshops. 
 
 World Invitational Hula Festival, Oahu, 13 - 15 November 2008
This celebration of Hawaiian culture, customs, history, language and relationship to all natural things attracts many curious visitors from all over the world. With a number of events taking place across the three days there will be more than enough to entertain the whole family.
 
 Babylon, London, 13 November 2008 - 15 March 2009
The ancient city in what is known as Iraq today, was one of the greatest cities in the 6th century, and the exhibition explores this period as well as the city's influence on the modern world, including minutes and hours and the zodiac system.
 
 Tivoli Christmas Market, Denmark, 14 November - 30 December 2008
Copenhagen’s magical amusement park, Tivoli, is not just a summer fun venue. For the past decade the park has opened for the Christmas season in an extremely festive guise to provide an unforgettable yuletide experience for hundreds of thousands of visitors, young and old.
 
 Arrival of St Nicholas, Netherlands, 16 November 2008
The true story of Santa Claus began in the 3rd century when St Nicholas (the Bishop of Myra) dedicated his life to helping the poor and needy. Through the centuries many stories and legends have been told about St Nicholas' life and deeds.
 
 Cairo International Film Festival, Egypt, 18 - 28 November 2008
With a cinematic tradition dating back as far as the 1930, Cairo is known as the 'Hollywood of the Middle East'. The Cairo International Film Festival began in 1976 and the 2008 edition will be screening films tackling issues on human rights and human dignity. 

 Piano Festival, Poland, 20 - 23 November 2008
For five days at three stunning venues in the Polish capital, the Ludwig van Beethoven Association present some of the finest young virtuosos and masters of the piano. The aim of the festival is to promote piano music in a wider sphere.
 
 Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, Chicago, 22 November 2008
The official start of the holiday season in Chicago is signalled by the lighting of more than a million white lights along the Magnificent Mile during a procession of Mickey Mouse and his Disney friends, concluding with a spectacular fireworks show over the Chicago River.
 
 Cannabis Cup, Netherlands, 23 - 27 November 2008
Amsterdam is equally famous for the relaxed attitude towards marijuana as it is for tulips, canals and Van Gogh; and the Cannabis Cup is a celebration of the narcotic that attracts many high-minded tourists who want to partake openly in its appreciation. 
 
 Crafts of Africa, Kenya, 26 - 30 November 2008
African artistic treasures are exhibited in the Crafts of Africa show in Nairobi each Christmas season, attracting about 20,000 visitors during the week. A huge range of arts and crafts are on display and for sale, from wood carvings and leather work to blown glass.
 
 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York City, 27 November 2008
Thanksgiving (originally a harvest festival) is celebrated across the United States as families get together and feast on huge helpings of roast turkey. Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is one of the Big Apple’s most dynamic and colourful events that takes the celebrations one stage further. 
 
 Dubai Rugby Sevens, United Arab Emirates, 27 - 29 November 2008
The Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens heralds the opening of the IRB Sevens World Series, and features 16 of the best international rugby sevens teams each year. The event has grown rapidly over the last few years and attracts over 70, 000 fans from around the world.
 
 Millionaire Fair, Russia, 27 - 30 November 2008
Unless you're a dollar millionaire, you're not likely to make many purchases at this annual event but there's a hefty dose of window shopping to be savoured by those so inclined… or to give you something to aspire to! 
 
 Cavalcade of Lights, Toronto, 29 November - 20 December 2008
Toronto's festive season officially kicks off at the end of November each year with the brilliant illumination of Nathan Phillips Square with more than 100,000 lights, spectacular fireworks and a massive Christmas tree, heralding a month of merry-making and fun events in the city centre.
 
 
 Traveller's Advice

 
International & Local Travel

Public smoking ban takes effect in India: A ban on smoking tobacco in public has come into force in India in an aim to cut the number of smokers and to protect passive smokers from the harmful effects of tobacco. More than 120 million people in India smoked tobacco smoking in India kills 900,000 people a year. Those disrespecting the law will face fines of 200 rupees ($4.50). 

Aer Lingus axes 1,500 jobs: A €74-million cost-saving programme means that Aer Lingus is set to cut up to 1,500 jobs through redundancy and outsourcing. The company’s Belfast International Airport hub will not be affected while the cabin crew base at Heathrow is to be closed. A deadline of 1 November was set for the implementation of the plan and there will be voluntary redundancy or early retirement packages for crew and ground staff in airports, catering and cargo divisions.

US Visa requirements for Australians: While holidaymakers can currently fly to the US and get a visa waiver allowing them to stay for up to 90 days, from January 12 passengers will have to apply in advance for ‘electronic travel authorisation’. Those who fail to get pre-authorisation via a US Government website will not be allowed to board their flight (or cruise ship) and staff will be powerless to intervene. There has been little publicity about the changes and he fears airline staff will cop the brunt of passengers' anger. Last year, 670,000 Australians travelled to the US. Travellers who fail to get pre-authorisation will also be knocked back on insurance claims, with most policies stating the insurer will not pay if a traveller fails to get necessary visas and travel documents.

Terminal 5 national embarrassment: The chaotic opening of Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5 showed serious fault by British Airways as well as airport operator, BAA according to the House of Commons Transport Committee. Both companies have apologised since then and the situation has improved. According to a report, when the £4.3bn terminal opened on 27 March, most of the problems were down to ‘insufficient communication’ between British Airways (BA) and BAA. It also criticised poor staff training and system-testing by the airline company. A BA spokesman stated, “T5’s opening is history. Its present is a great success. We are resolutely committed to keeping it so."

Singapore Airlines to charge for seat selection: Travellers flying Economy Class with Singapore Airlines and booking on singaporeair.com, now have the option of guaranteeing themselves a preferred seat, with the launch of Preferred Seat Selection. Currently, preferred seats available for allocation are located in exit rows. Customers will be offered an option to purchase a specific Preferred Seat, when they make their seat selection for applicable Economy Class bookings, including KrisFlyer redemption bookings. Customers can also purchase a Preferred Seat anytime before check-in (which begins 48 hours before flight departure), simply by retrieving their bookings on Singapore Airlines website.

'Nude' airport scanners under fire: Trials of new 'virtual strip search' scanning technology will continue at Australian airports, despite the possibility of the scanners being banned in Europe. European Union MPs have joined US civil liberty campaigners in criticising a new scanner technology, which allows airport security staff to see through passengers' clothes. Calling it a virtual strip search, they say it should be used only as a last resort. The new system, being tested in Australia and which the EU plans to authorise at the bloc's airports, allows guards to see an outline of passengers' bodies beneath their clothes, making it easier to detect any concealed objects.
 
 
International Safety and Security

Pakistan: An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 hit the Balochistan province in south-western Pakistan, killing at least 100 people. Visitors in the area are advised to be cautious.
Democratic Republic of Congo: A UN convoy arrived in rebel-held territory in the Democratic Republic of Congo bringing supplies to some of the 250,000 people displaced by fighting. All but essential travel is strongly advised against.

Vietnam: Northern and central Vietnam, including Hanoi, was been hit by the worst flooding in two decades, killing at least 49 people. Streets and roads have been turned into flowing rivers, causing food, electricity and medical supply problems, which are being addressed by authorities. Visitors are urged to check the situation with local authorities.

Zambia: Riots spread from Lusaka to Kitwe as Banda was sworn in as President of Zambia on 2 November 2009. The Zambian army was put on alert amid an increased fear of violence over a disputed election outcome. It is reported that police were engaged in running battles with Sata supporters. Visitors in the area are urged to be vigilant.

Health

South Africa/Zambia: Four people died in Johannesburg of a mystery flu-like Haemorrhagic illness that may have been contracted in Zambia in early October. It was later identified as the Arena Virus. Symptoms include severe flu-like symptoms, diarrhoea and a rash. Members of the public who had travelled to Zambia during the last month, and who suffered from raised temperatures or flu-like symptoms are requested to report to the nearest health facility for examination. Visitors to Zambia are advised to seek medical attention if suffering from any of these symptoms.