England
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union announced that London Underground workers will stage a four-day strike starting at 4 p.m. Tuesday. The workers maintain the Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee lines and voted to go on strike in an effort to get the same pension and travel privileges as London underground staff. Lee Jones, the operations director of Tube Lines, said there would be minimal disruption to travel and that drivers and staff would not be part of the strike. During the strike, however, there will be no Emergency Response Unit at work.
Chile
A magnitude-6.7 earthquake Tuesday shook eight regions of the country, leading to two heart-attack deaths. After the quake, aftershocks were felt north and south of Santiago, prompting the government to urge calm while damage was assessed. Coastal areas were temporarily evacuated until a tsunami warning was lifted. There were reports of rock slides on a highway outside Santiago, and Los Libertadores Pass in the Andes, which connects the Chilean city of Los Andes with the city of Mendoza in Argentina, remains partially obstructed.
Mali
A Swiss woman was abducted in Timbuktu, a city seized by Islamists after the recent coup. Local reports identified the woman as a Christian who had lived in Timbuktu for years and was active in the community. The Swiss government and the U.S. State Department advised their citizens to consider leaving the country due to the deteriorating situation. There is an active rebellion in the north, and the political situation in the country remains turbulent.
New Zealand
As Christchurch continues to recover from a deadly earthquake in February 2011, New Zealand’s Anglican church has announced that it will build a temporary cathedral from cardboard. The church’s 131-year-old cathedral was destroyed in last year’s quake, and the cardboard cathedral is a stand-in as a permanent replacement is planned and constructed. The transitional cathedral is largely symbolic of the rebuilding effort in Christchurch, a city whose now barren blocks stand as reminders of the devastation.
Tunisia
The U.S. State Department issued a travel alert citing a potential for unrest in Tunisia. Tourist areas remain fairly calm, but spontaneous events such as work stoppages and demonstrations still occur, and the country remains under a state of emergency. Curfews can be ordered on short notice. Travelers should consider safety at all times, especially avoiding political demonstrations, which can turn violent.
Compiled from news services and travel sources. For updates, check with the State Department at 888-407-4747, travel.state.gov.