AUSTRALIA(CAIRNS) - Parts of Cairns Airport (http://www.cairnsairport.com.au/), serving the city of Cairns in Australia's state of Queensland, has reportedly been evacuated after an earlier security incident on 10 July. An unidentified person reportedly doused himself in petrol and threatened to set himself alight, prompting the security alert. The airport has stated that the incident occurred in Terminal 2 and that the situation is under control. Operations are expected to resume shortly. Persons travelling to or from Cairns Airport on 10 July should check the status of their flight(s) with their travel provider or airline prior to departure.

INDONESIA(SOUTHERN PROVINCES) - (Update) Indonesian authorities have confirmed the temporary closure of at least four airports located in Indonesia's southern provinces due to ash emissions, originating from Mount Raung, on 10 July. The affected airports include Ngurah Rai International Airport (also known as Denpasar International Airport) which serves the island of Bali, and Lombok International Airport, located on the West Nusa Tenggara Province. Jember Notohadinegoro Airport and Banyuwangi Airport, both located in East Java, are also affected. Scheduled flight services are expected to resume at the above mentioned airports at 22:00 local time on 10 July. The eruption of Mount Raung, located in Indonesia's East Java province, has resulted in flight disruptions in recent days. Further eruptions are possible in the coming days; as such, additional disruptions to scheduled flight services cannot be discounted. Once operations normalise, it will likely take several hours for airport authorities to clear the backlog of flights. Clients scheduled to transit through the affected airports in the near-term are advised to contact their travel provider or airline directly to confirm the status of their flight(s). Local developments should be monitored closely; all advisories issued by local authorities should be adhered to.

 

PHILIPPINES(CEBU PACIFIC) - Cebu Pacific on Friday cancelled two of its flights because of monsoon rains induced by typhoon Falcon (international name: Chan-Hom). The return flights from Manila to Virac, Catanduanes have been canceled, according to a Cebu Pacific travel advisory dated July 9. The Manila International Airport Authority issued the same advisory for Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 9 a.m. on Friday. "Due to monsoon rains, the following Cebu Pacific flights scheduled today, July 10, 2015, have been cancelled: 5J 821 / 5J 822 Manila - Virac - Manila," Cebu Pacific said. The company said it will arrange the rebooking of affected passengers "on the soonest available flights." Those who will be unable to take the flights provided by Cebu Pacific may get a full refund or travel fund or rebook their flights within 30 days from the original departure date. On Thursday, Cebu Pacific canceled flights to Busuanga and Caticlan. They may call the CEB reservation hotlines at (+632)702-0888 or (+6332)230-8888, or visit CEB's ticket offices:

• NAIA Terminal 3 Sales Office - Level 3, Departure Hall, NAIA Terminal 3, Andrews Ave., Pasay City
• NAIA Terminal 4 Express Ticket Office - Old Domestic Road, Pasay City
• Robinsons Galleria - West Lane, Level 1, Ortigas Ave. cor. ADB Ave., Quezon City
• Robinsons Place Imus - Level 4, Aguinaldo Highway Imus, Cavite
• Robinsons Place Manila - Level 1, Adriatico Wing, Pedro Gil cor. Adriatico St., Ermita, Manila
• Cebu Airport Ticket Office - Mactan International Airport, Lapu-Lapu, Cebu City
• Robinsons Fuente - Fuente Osmeņa, Cebu City

 

UNITED KINGDOM(LONDON & SOUTH EAST ENGLAND) - (Update) Engineers employed by Southern Railways and represented by the National Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union in the UK have suspended a countrywide general strike scheduled to take place from 12 to 17 July. The industrial action, which was to affect most passenger rail services between the capital of London and South East England, was called off following successful labour negotiations between RMT and Southern Railways. Although an agreement has been reached, the possibility of further planned work stoppages remains possible should the agreement not be accepted by all stakeholders. Clients in or planning to travel to the UK are advised to monitor local media for announcements regarding in additional possible strike action. Clients are also advised to contact their travel provider to confirm the status of rail services in the UK in the near-term.   

 

UNITED KINGDOM(BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND) - The annual 'Twelfth' parade is expected to take place in Belfast in Northern Ireland, UK, on 13 July. The main parade, which will commence at 09:45 local time, will depart from Belfast Orange Hall at Carlisle Circus. It will then stop at The Cenotaph grounds near the Belfast City Hall for a wreath laying ceremony. After which, it will proceed via Donegall Square West to Barnett Demesne, where a demonstration will then be held. In an attempt to prevent possible violence, authorities have once again banned participants from proceeding along parts of Crumlin Road, in Belfast's predominantly Catholic nationalist district of Ardoyne. Additional parades are expected to be held in urban centres across Northern Ireland; for a comprehensive list of parade locations please visit http://visit-belfast.com/whats-on/event/twelfth-celebrations-orangefest. A significantly heightened police presence is expected throughout the region, with authorities drafting in additional riot police units.  The 'Twelfth' parade, which commemorates the historic Battle of the Boyne, forms part of Northern Ireland's annual marching season, in association with the region's Protestant fraternal organisation, the Orange Order. The marching season takes place annually between April and September and sees various Protestant pro-union fraternal groups hosting mass rallies and processions, including in Catholic-dominated Irish nationalist areas. Although the majority of these events pass peacefully, they have been known to spark violent clashes between unionist Protestants and nationalist Catholics in the past. Belfast has experienced incidents of violence during numerous previous parades. In 2013, violent confrontations in the Ardoyne district following the annual parade led to several consecutive days of unrest and rioting in the city and elsewhere in the region. It should be noted that previous attempts by the authorities to prevent parade participants from entering nationalist areas have still resulted in clashes between participants, nationalists and security forces. As such, efforts to prevent participants from proceeding through Ardoyne do not significantly pre-empt violent clashes elsewhere in Belfast.  Clients in Northern Ireland, particularly Belfast, are advised to exercise caution and avoid all 'Twelfth' parade gatherings and concentrations of security forces as a precaution due to the possibility of violent civil unrest.

GERMANY(RHINELAND-PALATINATE & BAVARIA STATES) - A gunman believed to be responsible for killing at least two people in a drive-by shooting earlier on 10 July has reportedly been apprehended in Bad Windsheim, in the state of Bavaria. The earlier shooting, which may have involved more than one perpetrator, took place in the Tiefenthal municipality, in the country's south western state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The motive for the shooting remains unknown; however, investigations and a manhunt are ongoing. An elevated security force presence should be anticipated in towns and municipalities in the vicinity of Tiefenthal and Bad Windsheim, as well as in the settlements themselves. Additional roadblocks by security forces are also possible as the search for a possible second gunman continues.  Persons in the aforementioned locations are advised to maintain a heightened level of security awareness. Clients are further advised to anticipate increased security measures and related travel disruptions. Finally, clients should report suspicious packages, persons and/or behaviour to the relevant authorities immediately.

 

SOUTH AFRICA(PAARL) - The Huguenot Tunnel, located near the town of Paarl in South Africa's Western Cape province, has been closed on 10 July. The closure was prompted by a call to protest action by a labour union demanding a wage increase for workers employed at the tunnel. Clients intending to use the Huguenot Tunnel on 10 July are advised to use the Du Toitskloof Pass as an alternative route. However, allowances should be made for potential travel delays due to congestion. All related protests and demonstrations should be avoided.

 

 

 

YEMEN - Rival armed groups in Yemen have reportedly agreed to a humanitarian truce from 23:59 local time on 10 July until the end of Ramadan, on 17 July, to allow aid to reach the civilian population. The rival groupings include those linked to the Houthi organisation and military and tribal forces loyal to President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. The prospect of the ceasefire halting all conflict is assessed to be low, given the current conflict theatre and arrangement of forces. Opposing sides in Aden, Marib governorate, along the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border and in some central governorates remain in close proximity to each other, increasing the risk of violence. Precedent also suggests that ceasefires and truces are rarely fully adhered to and often break down shortly after being initiated. Islamist extremists, such as militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), are also not party to the truce and are likely to seek to continue operations against their domestic opponents. Clients are advised against all travel to Yemen, excluding the Socotra archipelago, due to severe political instability, ongoing heightened conflict levels since March and the elevated risks of terrorism and kidnapping.

 

 

INDIA/PAKISTAN - International Quds (Jerusalem) Day is being commemorated on 10 July in Pakistan and India. The day was instituted by the Iranian government in 1979 in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people and against Israel's control of Jerusalem.  Rallies are typically held in India's northern state of Jammu and Kashmir, and focus on the summer capital, Srinagar. Although organisers have stated that they intend this gathering to be peaceful, a similar rally commemorating International Quds Day in 2012 degenerated into violent clashes between demonstrators and police. In Pakistan, rallies are often attended by hundreds of thousands of people in urban centres following Friday midday prayers. These events, which are attended by a considerable proportion of Pakistan's Shiite Muslim minority, are a prominent target for Sunni extremist groups to carry out attacks. During International Quds Day commemorations in 2010, the banned Sunni Muslim extremist group, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, carried out a bombing on a Shiite gathering in Balochistan province's capital, Quetta, killing 73 people and leaving 160 injured. Due to these threats, security has been heightened in Jammu and Kashmir state in India and across Pakistan; however, it has been particularly elevated in Quetta due to the considerable minority of Shiites present in that area. Such measures may include increased security force deployments, roadblocks and the suspension of mobile phone services. In the event of violence at any rallies in Jammu and Kashmir, authorities may respond with the imposition of a curfew.  Due to a number of ongoing concerns, clients are advised against all travel to Pakistan and against all non-essential travel to Jammu and Kashmir state (except the eastern Ladakh region) in India. Clients currently in areas likely to be affected are advised to avoid all related demonstrations as a precaution, particularly in areas identified as carrying an elevated risk of violence.

HONDURAS(TEGUCIGALPA) - Activists are expected to participate in an anti-corruption protest march in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, on 10 July. Participants are expected to gather at the Hospital Escuela Universitario, located on Suyapa Boulevard, at 17:00 local time and proceed to the United Nations (UN) building. The upcoming protest is the latest in a series of agitations against alleged government corruption. Participants are expected to deliver a petition to a UN delegation in order to appeal for external mediation in a corruption case involving President Juan Orlando Hernandez. Recent anti-government protests have drawn large crowds and resulted in localised road travel disruptions, particularly in Tegucigalpa. Most of the protests were well supported and concluded without any major incident. This precedent suggests that the scheduled protest will likely pass peacefully. Nonetheless, it should be noted that protests in Honduras have the potential to turn violent and security forces are known to use heavy-handed tactics in dealing with dissent. Additionally, localised road travel disruptions are anticipated along the protest route.  Clients in Tegucigalpa on 10 July are advised to make allowances for localised travel disruptions and avoid all large street gatherings as a precaution against civil unrest.

 

MEXICO(MEXICO CITY) - Members of the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) union are expected to protest in Mexico's capital, Mexico City, on 10 July. The protest is set to commence at 10:00 local time in the vicinity of the Interior Ministry.  The upcoming protest forms part of wide-ranging CNTE protest action demanding political reforms. Since 1 June, demonstrations have been reported in the states of Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas and Guerrero; participants have blocked roads, damaged private property, looted trucks and disrupted traffic. The upcoming protests are likely to result in localised road travel disruptions. Significant levels of violence at protests are considered low; however, confrontations between demonstrators and the police remain a possibility. Clients in Mexico City on 10 July are advised to avoid all street protests as a standard precaution. Itineraries should be kept flexible to accommodate possible travel disruptions.

BAHRAIN - The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has stated that protests are planned in a number of areas of Bahrain on 10 July. The FCO has stated that unauthorised demonstrations are scheduled in Aali and Malkiya from 15:30 local time. It has further stated that demonstrations are likely in a number of villages countrywide following midday Muslim prayers. The FCO has not elaborated on who has called the protests. The protests are likely being initiated by Shiite Muslim opposition parties or activists. These groups hold regular anti-government protests in the country to demand the release of political prisoners and political reforms. The forthcoming protests may also be connected to Quds Day on 10 July. Anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations are frequently held on this day, which falls on the last Friday of Ramadan (18 June to 17 July). Demonstrations in Bahrain are prone to low-level acts of violence, either by militant supporters of these groupings against state interests or by the police against protesters. Police-initiated violence is more likely to occur if protesters block major roads, march in Sunni areas or attempt to march into the capital, Manama.  Clients are advised against all non-essential travel to Bahrain, excluding Manama, the Bahrain International Airport and main roads leading from the airport to the capital. Unaccompanied travel at night outside of secure areas in all locations is ill-advised. All street protests should be avoided.

 

REPUBLIC OF CONGO(BRAZZAVILLE) - Anti-government protests are possible in the Republic of Congo's capital, Brazzaville, between 11 and 15 July, during which time President Denis Sassou-Nguesso will lead a national dialogue conference. The president is expected to propose and discuss political and institutional reforms ahead of the Republic of Congo's 2016 presidential elections. President Sassou-Nguesso's national dialogue conference is set to be boycotted by several opposition groups amid beliefs that the incumbent will use the event to announce his presidential candidacy for the forthcoming vote. The Republic of Congo's political opposition have claimed that Sassou-Nguesso is ineligible to contest the 2016 ballot as he has already served the maximum number of presidential terms outlined in the country's constitution. Consequently, there is a credible threat of opposition parties organising anti-government protests and gatherings over this period; precedent suggests that such events may be forcibly dispersed by security forces. Clients in Brazzaville are advised to monitor political developments and avoid all related protests and demonstrations.

 

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