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In Greece, strikes in the public sector resumed after the traditional break for the summer holidays. During a nationwide general strike organized by unions on Sept. 25, transportation was shut down as many public sector employees joined tens of thousands protesting wage and pension cuts proposed by the new Greek government. General strikes are expected to continue.
More than one million people joined Catalonia’s annual independence day demonstration in Barcelona on Sept. 11. The self-governing region of Spain is asking Madrid for a larger portion of the country’s tax revenues plus a financial bailout. Those in the region also want fiscal independence to handle their own tax budget.
Although Guinea has been relatively calm since the democratically elected president took office in December 2010, legislative elections, which should have taken place shortly after the presidential elections, have been repeatedly delayed, causing increasing anger, the US Department of State reports.
On several occasions, large crowds of demonstrators have gathered at thoroughfares to express their dissatisfaction. If the election cycle is further delayed, which seems likely, peaceful protests may turn violent.
The US Department of State warns against all travel to Mali at this time because of fluid political conditions and the loss of government control of Mali’s northern provinces, where factions linked to Al-Qaeda threaten to attack and kidnap Westerners.
However, since the March 21 military coup, Mali’s path toward stabilized legitimate governance has clarified considerably, particularly with the installation of an expanded interim government on Aug. 20.
The US Department of State continues to strongly recommend deferring all travel to the Republic of South Sudan and the Sudan/South Sudan border region. Fighting between Sudan Armed Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) has declined since spring but could renew. Also, at least seven rebel militia forces in various areas of South Sudan frequently engage in violent clashes with SPLA forces.
The risk of violent crime is high in Juba. US citizens have been the subjects of arrest and detention without cause and of physical abuse by South Sudanese security services.
On Sept. 15, following an attack on the Embassy in Khartoum, the Department of State ordered the departure of nonemergency US government personnel from Sudan. It urges avoiding all travel to the Darfur region and the Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan states. The terrorist threat level throughout Sudan remains critical.
• On Sept. 12, the US Department of State ordered the departure of all nonemergency government personnel from LIBYA, following the attack on the US Diplomatic mission in Benghazi in which the American Ambassador was killed. Political violence subsequently increased in Benghazi and Tripoli.
• On Sept. 14, the US Department of State ordered the departure of all nonemergency government personnel from TUNISIA, following the attack on the Embassy in Tunis. At press time, it was warning against all travel to Tunisia.
The annual September monsoon rains brought heavy flooding to several areas in central Pakistan, particularly the provinces of Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh and Kashmir. At least 260 people were killed, with over a million affected. Infrastructure was damaged, along with 73,000 houses and shops. More than 800,000 acres of crops were destroyed.
Despite the negative news coverage of the area, during the two months that my husband and I enjoyed in the delightful town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, we felt safer than we probably would have in most US cities comprising 140,000 residents.
My wife, Liz, and I were in France in August ’12 and visited Mont-Saint-Michel. Here are some tips for ITN readers planning to visit the Mont.