Foreign & Commonwealth Office News
General strike knocks Italian transport network
A general strike in Italy has seen flights cancelled and widespread disruption spread across the national transport network. The largest union in the country, CGIL, called the strike in response to proposed austerity measures in the country.
FCO urges caution on Rugby World Cup fans
Rugby fans are being warned to take extra care on the roads during the Rugby World Cup as statistics show New Zealand has more than twice the number of road crash fatalities per 100,000 people as the UK.
Remaining British nationals shipped out of Libya as Gaddafi endgame approaches
Foreign & Commonwealth Office officials have confirmed the few remaining British nationals in the Libyan capital of Tripoli are being shipped out to Malta. The decision comes as fierce fighting sweeps the city as the regime of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi appears close to collapse.
Foreign Office trials crisis texting service with Vodafone UK
The Foreign Office has launched a trial service with Vodafone to deliver emergency text messages to Vodafone UK subscribers as well as to customers of any mobile provider whose service runs on Vodafone’s network. The text will be sent out to customers who are in a country where there has been a major crisis – such as a natural disaster or civil unrest.
British holidaymakers on best behaviour while abroad
The number of Britons arrested overseas has fallen by over ten per cent, according to the new British Behaviour Abroad report from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Drug arrests have decreased by almost 20 per cent over the past year – with a total of 799 recorded.
British man killed while holidaying in Venezuela
A British holidaymaker has been shot and killed on the Venezuelan island of Margarita. The brother the deceased – named by the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office as 28 year-old Thomas Ossel from Bedfordshire - was also shot and injured during the incident.
Brits urged to flee Syria
British residents still in Syria have been warned to leave as soon as possible by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. The warning comes as violent disturbances in urban centres across the country, including the capital Damascus, continue.
Chile rocked by volcanic eruptions
Chile – already one of the most volcanically active countries in the world – has seen a chain of eruptions sweep across the Puyehue-Cordon-Caulle range. As many as 3,500 people have been affected, with the border with Argentina also closed.
FCO warns British travellers to Germany
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has moved to warn British travellers in Germany over the dangers of E.coli. The decision comes as the virus continues to spread across Europe, with 17 lives lost to date.
FCO warns Brits over travel insurance
Over 12 million British nationals are planning to visit friends and family abroad this year1 but new research published today by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office shows young people are more likely to buy a present for their host than take out a travel insurance policy.
Fears grow over Costa Rica travel
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated its travel advice for Costa Rica following an increase in the number of missing tourists reported in the country. A total of eight foreigners - including one British national – are presently believed to have gone missing in the last two years, with some related to criminal activity.
FCO warns Brits over stag party travel insurance
New research from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office reveals that over one million Britons are planning to travel abroad for stag and hen parties this year but around 169,000 will not have travel insurance and risk coming home out of pocket if they have an accident, get arrested or lose their possessions.