September 2012

Two massive power outages in India affected more people than any blackout in history: more than 600 million. On July 31 the country’s northern electricity grid failed for several hours, and when it crashed again on Aug. 2, it took down the western and eastern grids as well.

Trains and metros were stopped and traffic lights failed. ATMs stopped working and many stores closed, but airports, hospitals and many businesses switched to generators. Power was restored in late evening.

In northeastern China, the worst storms in more than 60 years flooded streets in the southern part of Beijing in late July, killing at least 77 people and leaving widespread damage. (Unaffected were the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and Palace Museum in the northern part of the city.)

There was damage at Shidu, Badachu Park and Tongzhou Grand Canal Forest Park, and the main highway between Beijing, Macau and Hong Kong was closed for repairs. Hebei province also suffered flooding and roads blocked by debris.

The new government of Libya is struggling to gain control of and disarm militias. Fighting between rival militias shut down the international airport in Tripoli on June 4 for several hours when gunmen drove onto the tarmac and surrounded several planes.

In the week before the elections on July 7, militias blocked the main east-west highway and shut down three oil terminals.

There have been reports of militias detaining foreigners and engaging in carjacking and other criminal activity.

Following a military coup in March 2012, Mali has been struggling with armed groups taking control of the northern regions. Tuareg nationalists and Islamist extremists (some linked with al-Qaeda) occupied the cities of Tombouctou, Kidal and Gao, where they have instituted strict Sharia law.

Several incidents in areas under extremists control have provoked censure from the international community. In June, three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, mausoleums in Timbuktu, were destroyed, and in July a couple was stoned to death for adultery.

The US Department of State continues to receive information about potential terrorist threats in Kenya. The levels of risk vary throughout the country.

In Nigeria, sectarian violence is particularly strong in the north. During June and July in Nigeria, extremists attacked many locations, killing scores of people and injuring hundreds. The targets of attacks and bombings included churches, mosques, media houses, police stations, Immigration & Customs offices, financial institutions, large hotels, shopping malls, markets, beer gardens and nightclubs.

The US State Department continues to warn of risks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (aka Congo-Kinshasa or DRC), particularly in the east and northeast.

In Iraq, a coordinated series of terrorist bombing attacks in 19 towns and cities killed more than 100 people and injured about 200 on July 23. During the month of July, nationwide, over 300 people died and more than 600 were injured, making it the worst month for casualties since 2010.

Throughout Syria, battles between President Assad’s government and rebel forces continue along the borders and around cities. In June and July, fighting intensified in several major urban centers, including Aleppo, Homs and Damascus. Casualty counts vary widely, but the UN conservatively estimates that 10,000 people have been killed since the crisis began in March 2011.

Russia and China have blocked international sanctions against the Assad government, and at the end of July the UN observer mission began withdrawing from Syria.

An optional extension to Madeira proved to be the highlight of a trip my husband, Al, and I took this spring. It followed our eighth trip with Grand Circle Travel (Boston, MA; 800/321-2835), the 15-day “Spain and Portugal in Depth” tour, March 18-April 6, 2012, which cost $2,395 per person plus $910 each for air from St. Louis.