News and advice

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has reiterated a warning against travel to parts of Uganda after a British man was shot dead while helping four rafters on an expedition in the area.

Steve Willis, who ran a backpackers' camp in Uganda, was killed by members of the Lord's Resistance Army in Murchison Falls National Park. Two rafters, from the UK and New Zealand, were injured in the ambush. The death follows a series of fatal attacks against aid workers in northern Uganda and southern Sudan.

The Foreign Office advises against travel to the park and against all travel to northern and north-eastern Uganda because of rebel insurgency and tribal clashes, though it stresses that most visits to the country are trouble free.

ACCESSIBILITY: Websites get advice

Producers of travel websites have been given guidance on what facilities they must provide for disabled travellers.

The Disability and Discrimination Act, which makes it unlawful to discriminate against people with disabilities, can also apply to websites. In Australia a blind person successfully sued the organising committee of the Sydney Olympic Games for A$20,000 (£8,500) for failing to make its website fully accessible to him.

As a result the European Tour Operators Association has outlined the different levels of website accessibility. The advice lists what web developers "must", "should" and "may" do.

ITALY: Cheap rail fares

Happy Train, the low-cost train service offered by Trenitalia, is selling tickets from €10 on most of the Italian rail network. Tickets must be bought within seven days of travel and are limited to specified routes. Once booked, they cannot be changed. For more information visit trenitalia.it.

CRUISING: Miami is 'hostile'

A new guide to cruising and cruise ships has criticised North American ports for a heavy-handed approach to security and potential terrorist threats.

Miami was singled out as the worst port and was among several that were accused of treating all passengers as potential terrorists by the Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships.

The guide includes a hostility chart that rates the user-friendliness and luggage-handling facilities of 24 ports. Miami scored nine out of a possible 40. Vancouver came top with 27 points. The new edition of the guide costs £18.99.

SKIING: Chalets on the net

Skiers can visit a new website offering information about chalets for hire. The site, which can be found at chaletvideo.com, offers details of 40 chalets belonging to companies including Meriski, Ski Verbier, Belvedere Chalets and Ski Basics. It also carries footage of resorts, including pistes, shops, facilities and restaurants.