Nepal on list of dangerous destinations

THE State Department has issued a travel warning urging Americans to delay nonessential travel to Nepal because of the threat of violence by the Communist Party of Nepal.

The Maoist organization has been demonstrating against the government, and some of those protests have turned violent. In June, more than 100 people were killed or injured in a blast that was set off beneath a packed bus in the Chitwan district. Maoist rebels were blamed for the attack.

“Travel via road in some areas outside of the Katmandu Valley continues to be dangerous and should be avoided,” the State Department said in its Dec. 15 warning. It also cited attacks on foreigners in the countryside and extortion of tourists on popular hiking trails.

For more information, see the State Department website, www.travel.state.gov.

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Hawaii gets its

own Cirque

THE circus is coming to Waikiki -- and it plans to stick around.

Cirque Hawaii will have its premiere Jan. 18 in the former IMAX theater at 325 Seaside Ave.

“It’s similar to Cirque du Soleil but is stepping out of the box,” says spokeswoman Erin Guernsey. “The word ‘cirque’ is French for circus.”

The twice-nightly shows have 34 performers, including contortionists, dancers, acrobats, clowns and aerialists as well as such circus staples as clowns.

The show’s creators, Mathieu Laplante and Alan Goldberg, have worked with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, Guernsey said. But Cirque Hawaii is not affiliated with Cirque du Soleil, according to Chantal Cote, a publicist for Cirque du Soleil.

Tickets start at $55. For more information, call (808) 922-0017 or www.cirquehawaii.com.

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Video screens for the deaf at SFO

HEARING-impaired airline passengers will soon be able to read public-address announcements on 80 large video screens at San Francisco International Airport, part of a settlement reached late last month of a lawsuit brought by Disability Rights Advocates, an Oakland nonprofit group.

The group sued the airport in 2002, saying it violated the Americans With Disabilities Act because a lack of appropriate signs and employees trained to assist the disabled made air travel at the airport confusing and complicated.

“We’re hoping SFO is going to be a model for other airports to follow,” said Kevin Knestrick, an attorney for Disability Rights Advocates.

The equipment is scheduled to be installed in the next 18 months, said airport spokesman Mike McCarron. The cost has not yet been determined.

Associated Press

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Panda cubs on both coasts

GIANT panda cubs born last summer made their debuts on both coasts last month.

Southern California’s own Su Lin, born Aug. 2 at the San Diego Zoo, is getting a taste of life in the spotlight. The female cub and her mother, Bai Yun, are on view at the zoo, 9 a.m. to noon daily. Check out Su Lin on the zoo webcam, www.sandiegozoo.org.

At the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., Tai Shan, the giant panda cub born July 9, is on view. Timed viewing passes to watch the cub for 10 minutes are among the hottest tickets in town, Associated Press reports. Details at the National Zoo website, www.fonz.org.

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New air services into California

THE new year begins with more service planned into California airports.

United Express, United’s regional arm, will move into Southwest’s territory when it launches flights Feb. 8 to Albuquerque from LAX, with three flights daily.

United Express will also start service to Edmonton, Canada, from San Francisco airport Feb. 8.

Canada’s low-cost affiliate Jazz last month began nonstop service between San Diego and Vancouver, offering 20 flights a day.

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Travel notes

THE Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., opened the Family Theater, a 324-seat, state-of-the-art theater that will stage performances for families. The center cost $9 million.

-- Compiled by

Vani Rangachar