ROMANIA - Romanian air traffic controllers are staging a two-hour strike after talks broke down over pay, problems with management and the retirement age. The strike will begin at 11 am and end at 1 pm (0800 GMT to 1000 GMT) on Wednesday. Some 40 flights will be affected by the walkout at Bucharest's Henri Coanda Airport. Some flights have already been canceled. The union that represents Romania's 1,500 air traffic controllers wants employees to be able to retire at 55, higher pay and a labor agreement that protects all employees. Negotiations with Transportation Ministry official Dragos Titea broke down Monday. One-third of flights will operate, according to aviation rules, and flights for senior government officials and the sick will also function.

ITALY(ROME) - Unionised public transport workers are set to observe a 24-hour strike action in Rome on 17 July. The strike is expected to significantly disrupt bus, tram and metro services on the day. Italy's public transport sector is regularly affected by work stoppages and strikes. These are generally organised in response to austerity and deregulation reforms implemented by the government, as well as specific labour disputes. An increased demand for alternative transport options should be expected in Rome for the duration of the strike. Persons in Italy during the aforementioned strike period should anticipate travel disruptions and adjust their plans accordingly. Clients are advised to contact their travel provider or transport operator for further information on the status of services and travel alternatives.
  

BRAZIL(RECIFE) - Bus drivers and conductors initiated a strike of indefinite duration in response to a work dispute in Recife, in Brazil's north eastern Pernambuco state, on 14 July. The strike resulted in widespread disruptions as approximately half of the city's bus fleet was affected. Striking workers also held protests on the day. Coinciding with the labour agitation, at least 11 busses were vandalised by unidentified persons. A further protest is anticipated in central Recife on 15 July. The demonstrations will begin at 10:00 local time in Praca Do Derby and proceed to Campo das Princesas Palace. The strike is expected to persist over the near-term until an agreement is reached between workers and management. The disruption to bus services will continue to impact on bus commuters and may increasingly affect other transport services due to increased demand for transportation. The risk of violence at all future related protests is considered elevated. However, the risk to travellers is considered largely incidental. Clients in Recife who intend to utilise public transport over the coming days should ensure that itineraries cater for delays and disruptions. All street protests and large crowds near bus depots/stations should be avoided.

 

GREECE(ATHENS) - There will be no service on the Athens metro before 9 a.m. on Wednesday as workers walk off the job to protest a new raft of austerity measures that are to be put before a vote in the evening. The ISAP electric railway, tram, buses and trolley buses are expected to operate as normal. But there will be no service on the national railway network or the Proastiakos suburban railway as workers join a 24-hour strike. A government initiative allowing commuters to ride most modes of public transport for free ended on Tuesday, meaning that validated tickets are required for public transport from Wednesday.

JAPAN(HONSHU, KYUSHU, CHUGOKU & SHIKOKU) - Tropical Storm Nangka is expected to make landfall in southern Japan on 16 July. The southern parts of the Japanese archipelago including southern Honshu, Kyushu, Chugoku and Shikoku are expected to be affected by heavy flood inducing rainfall and damaging winds. The Japanese Metrological Agency has issued warnings and advisories for the following cities, located in the before mentioned areas; Oita, Kochi, Okayama and Osaka. Nangka is expected to weaken as it moves through southern Japan in a north-east direction and possibly impact northern Japan by 17 July. The storm system is likely to bring heavy rainfall over the near-term, which may be conducive to flooding in low-lying areas and landslides in elevated regions. Strong winds, coastal storm surges and adverse maritime conditions are also anticipated. In addition to ferry service disruptions, air and road transport services may be affected. Power supply and communication disruptions should also be anticipated. Clients in or planning to travel to the affected areas over the near-term are advised to monitor local media for updates and advisories from the authorities. Caution is advised in low-lying and elevated regions due to the risks of flooding and landslides, respectively. Travellers should reconfirm all scheduled services with their travel provider or the local transport authority prior to departure.

 

ITALY - Overall crime rates in Italy are low and most visits to the country are trouble free; however, crime rates in major urban centres, including the capital, Rome, are considered elevated. The most likely form of crime to impact on foreign visitors is petty in nature and includes pickpocketing, bag-snatching and theft from parked vehicles. The risk of being affected by crime increases countrywide if travelling alone after dark and in isolated areas of cities and towns, particularly in low-income areas. Petty crime hotspots include major urban centre, popular tourist sights and public transport hubs. Violent crime, although rare, occurs periodically; related incidents include rape, violent mugging and drugging. Criminal activities by organised crime groups pose an additional security concern. Despite this, foreign nationals are not specifically targeted by these. Persons travelling in Italy are advised to adopt basic security precautions, including exercising a high level of personal security awareness when travelling in higher-risk areas and after dark.

 

TURKEY(SOUTHERN & SOUTH EASTERN REGIONS) - Increased assessment for areas near the border with Syria. Turkey's southern and eastern provinces carry a higher risk to travellers than other areas of the country. Kurd rebels, including members of the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), operate extensively in many south eastern provinces and periodically engage in clashes with the Turkish security forces. The provinces bordering Syria are also prone to conflict spillover from the Syrian conflict, while large flows of refugees and militants across this shared border are common. Militants in Syria have also been implicated in attacks on the Turkish side of the border since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Generally, the southern, eastern and south eastern provinces carry a higher risk of crime, civil unrest, kidnapping and conflict than provinces elsewhere in the country. Heightened caution is advised elsewhere in these provinces (except Sirnak, see below) due to elevated conflict and terrorism risks. All non-essential travel to the provinces of Van, Sirnak and Hakkari due to the risk of conflict between the Turkish military and Kurd rebels, as well as the elevated risks of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and crime. In addition, heightened caution is advised in all eastern and south eastern provinces of Turkey, particularly in rural areas, due to the risks of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, crime, and Kurd rebel-related conflict. These provinces include Ardahan, Agri, Kars, Igdir, Siirt, Batman, Bitlis, Mus, Bingol, Elazig, Erzincan, Tunceli, Diyarbakir and Erzurum.

  

LIBYA(TRIPOLI) - Bangladeshi authorities have announced on 14 July the closure of the Bangladesh embassy in Libya's capital, Tripoli, due to ongoing security concerns. Authorities have confirmed the relocation of embassy staff to Tunisia, where a diplomatic mission will soon be established. Furthermore, authorities have advised Bangladeshi nationals against all travel to Libya and to avoid all large gatherings and conflict areas if already in the country. The advisory is in reference to the ongoing conflict and deteriorating security situation in Libya. Although the Bangladeshi embassy has not suffered any recent attacks, there have been a number of attacks directed towards diplomatic representations in Tripoli since 2012. These attacks, and the generally elevated level of political instability and insecurity in the country, have led to the withdrawal of numerous foreign missions from the capital. In recent months, IS-linked militant activity has spiked across the country, with numerous low-level and mass casualty attacks claimed or blamed on the group. Given the current level of political instability and insecurity, further acts of terrorism are likely. Clients are advised against all travel to Libya. Persons in Libya are advised to implement extensive personal, travel and residential security measures. Furthermore, persons requiring consular assistance should be aware of the limitations of any such help, should it be required, given the recent closure of numerous diplomatic representations.
awareness

CHINA(SICHUAN PROVINCE) - Heightened security has been implemented in Nyagchuka, located in China's Sichuan province, after incidents of civil unrest were reported on 13 July. The unrest followed a protest held outside government offices in the area. According to reports, police fired teargas and live ammunition to disperse the crowd. Protesters demanded the body of a Tibetan activist, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, who was incarcerated in China for 13 years and died recently, on 13 July. The Nyagchuka and Lithang counties have been cordoned off and a police presence remains in place.  Civil rights groups and NGO's participated in the protest against the perceived unusual circumstances under which Tibetan prisoners incarcerated in China have died, including Rinpoche. Rinpoche was serving a life sentence on charges of terrorism; however, human rights groups has described his incarceration as a wrongful detention. Should protests continue, further unrest is possible. Any additional protests may also serve to disrupt road travel. Localised disruptions and heightened security measures are likely to remain in place in the affected areas in the near-term. Clients in or planning to be in the affected areas in the short-term are advised to maintain heightened levels of situational awareness and comply with any directives issued by the local authorities. In addition, possible localised delays, primarily to road-based travel, should be anticipated.

EGYPT(FAYOUM) - A small bomb detonated under a bridge in Fayoum, located in northern Egypt, on 15 July, wounding four police officials and two civilians. The blast follows a day after two separate bombing incidents were reported in the same area. The first blast occurred near an electricity pylon, damaging the structure. The second detonated near a cafe. No casualties were reported. Egypt has experienced a spate of low-level bombings since 2013 that have targeted economic targets, such as state infrastructure and businesses, and the security forces, including police patrols and checkpoints. The majority of these attacks have been attributed to youth anarchist and militant groupings, some of which are thought to be linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, which was ousted from power by the military in 2013. Larger-scale attacks and incidents resulting in fatalities have also occurred and been linked to Islamist extremist groupings, including the Islamic State's (IS) Sinai Province and Ajnad Misr. Extremist groups are also opposed to the current military-dominated regime; their targets also extend to foreign interests, including tourist and diplomatic interests. Clients in Egypt are advised to exercise a heightened level of personal security awareness in the country, particularly near state infrastructure and personnel and in areas frequented by foreign nationals. Suspicious persons and packages should be reported to your in-country escort or the local authorities.
 
AFRICA(WEST, CENTRAL & EAST AFRICA) - Eid al-Fitr will be commemorated on 17/18 July in several Sub-Saharan African countries amid a heightened terrorism threat.  In the West African and Central African countries of Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad, Eid festivities are at a heightened risk of being disrupted by the Boko Haram Islamist extremist sect, which has stepped up attacks within the aforementioned countries in recent weeks. Within these countries, administrative divisions bordering Lake Chad will be most susceptible to attack. Also in West Africa, a heightened threat of terrorism exists in Mali and Mauritania, where a number of al-Qaeda-aligned militant groups are known to possess an operational presence. In the East Africa region, the al-Shabaab militant group may similarly seek to execute attacks in countries including Somalia, Kenya and Uganda over the Eid-al-Fitr period. Security in these countries is likely to be increased significantly in response to the al-Shabaab threat.  Clients in the aforementioned countries over the Eid-al-Fitr period are advised to exercise heightened security awareness, limit time spent in crowded public areas and ensure that all suspicious persons, packages and/or vehicles are reported to local authorities.
 
UKRAINE(DONETSK & LUHANSK REGIONS) - At least eight soldiers were reportedly killed in continuing hostilities between the country's armed forces and pro-Russia separatist militants in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk on 14 July. In the deadliest incident, five soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device while patrolling the ceasefire line near Bolotene, in the Luhansk region. Elsewhere, three soldiers were killed and dozens wounded by shelling and mortar fire in Horlivka, Avdiivka and Kirov, which are all located in the Donetsk region. Although a February 2015 ceasefire brought a relative lull in hostilities between Ukrainian troops and rebels vying for secession, conflict between the opposing groups resumed in late May when heavy fighting broke out in and around the separatist-held town of Shyrokyne, 25km east of the strategic port city of Mariupol. Ceasefire violations, particularly retaliatory shelling and mortar-fire, have also since been reported at many other settlements across the conflict zone, including Artemivsk, Popasna, Sokolniki and Avdiivka. Nonetheless, sustained confrontations between the parties have not been reported and the ceasefire agreement, while tentative, remains enforced. Nonetheless, a breakdown of the ceasefire agreement, and a subsequent return to full-scale hostilities, cannot be discounted at this time. Clients are advised against all travel to Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk due to instability and frequent clashes involving armed forces and separatist militants. Clients currently in or intending to travel the region despite this advisory should coordinate all movements in the presence of a security escort.

   

ARGENTINA - Agricultural unions, Sociedad Rural Argentina (SRA), Argentine Rural Confederations (CRA) and Coninagro, have called on their members to observe a national day of protests in Argentina on 17 July. The protest campaign has been called with regard to a number of issues affecting the agricultural sector, including regulation laws, taxation and export quotas. Protests are expected across the country, including in the Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Chaco, Formosa, Mendoza, Neuquen, Rio Negro and Santa Fe provinces. Further details regarding the protests are unavailable. While it is currently unclear how well the protest action will be observed, as participation will vary according to region, associated demonstrations are set to be well attended; as such, localised travel disruptions are anticipated. Persons in Argentina are advised to monitor local media for updates and announcements regarding the upcoming protests. Furthermore, all protests and related gatherings should be avoided as a standard precaution.

SRI LANKA(ANURADHAURA SINHALESE) - Opposition party, the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), is expected to hold a rally at Salgado Grounds in Anuradhapura Sinhalese, located in Sri Lanka's North Central province, on 17 July.  The rally has been scheduled ahead of parliamentary elections, which are scheduled to take place on 17 August, and forms part of a campaign to reinstate former president Mahinda Rajapaksa. Several incidents of politically motivated violence have been reported in recent days following a 26 June announcement by President Maithripala Sirisena that general elections will be held sooner than previously scheduled. There is a credible threat of clashes between rival supporters at all upcoming events related to the elections. As such, the upcoming rally may pose an incidental risk to bystanders. Localised disruptions should be anticipated in the vicinity of all election-related events, including the upcoming rally. Clients in Anuradhapura Sinhalese are advised to avoid the upcoming rally and any associated large street gatherings as a standard precaution. Persons in Sri Lanka during the upcoming elections period are advised to exercise heightened caution and avoid all polling stations, political party offices and other election-related facilities in the days leading up to and including 17 August, as well as the period immediately following.

 

ATG has Customer Coaches available around-the-clock should you  

need assistance with your travel plans.