BRITISH AIRWAYS - British Airways is to launch a new route from Gatwick to Valencia for the coming winter season. The route to Spain's third largest city will start on November 6 with four flights per week which will be increased to six per week for the summer 2016 season. BA will be competing against Easyjet which already operates on the route. BA's Gatwick-Valencia service will initially operate on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday during winter 2015/16. The route will also run on Monday and Thursday next summer. BA has introduced a series of new routes from Gatwick this year including Seville and Vienna. Valencia will be the airline's 15th destination in Spain.

 

UNITED STATES (NEW YORK CITY) - An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease has been reported in the South Bronx area of New York City, in the US, since mid-July. As of 30 July, at least two people are reported to have died out of 31 reported cases, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The worst-affected neighbourhoods include Highbridge, Morrisania, Hunts Point and Mott Haven. Authorities are testing local water supplies, humidifiers and large air-conditioning systems in a bid to determine the source of the outbreak. Legionnaires' disease is a respiratory bacterial infection usually spread through mist that comes from a water source, such as cooling towers, air conditioning or showers. Although the disease is not transmittable from person to person, it presents with pneumonia-like symptoms including fever, chills, headache, fatigue and confusion. Legionnaires' disease is common in the US, with an estimated 8,000 to 18,000 hospitalization cases reported annually. Persons travelling to the affected area are advised to take precautions. Individuals exhibiting the above-mentioned symptoms are advised to consult a medical practitioner.   

 

BELGIUM(BRUSSELS AIRPORT) - Brussels Airport security staff announced they will conduct a work-to-rule on Monday, after expressing concerns that around 50 people have slipped through the gates to the Schengen area without a valid boarding pass. The action will take place on a particularly busy day for the airport. "The gates are far from reliable," said the federal secretary of CGSP Aviation, Bart Neyens. "We are aware of 50 incidents since the end of March. Dozens of passengers without tickets have got through the gates." Reportedly on Sunday two men managed to board a plane without boarding passes before they were apprehended. "For a few hours, we will conduct thorough searches," said Neyens.

 

SWEDEN - Heavy delays were expected in the densely-populated southern area of Sweden on Thursday morning, particularly on the lines from Malmö to Hässleholm and from Malmö to Helsingborg, because of a signalling fault at the station at Åkarp. Meanwhile, operators were trying to fix a similar fault at the main central station in Helsingborg, causing problems for all rail traffic through the city. However, just after 8am the Swedish Transportation Authority (Trafikverket) said both signalling faults had been taken care of and trains were running again, but that delays could be expected. And slightly further north, in the Blekinge and Småland regions, replacement buses are currently running between Karlskrona and Emmaboda due to a power blackout at one of the local train stations on the line. Meanwhile, in northern Sweden a switchgear fire at Hofors has caused all rail traffic to grind to a halt between Falun and Storvik. "There's a complete stop in both directions," Joel Lindberg, press spokesman at the Transportation Authority, told the TT newswire. The fire was put out on Thursday morning, but trains are not expected to start running until around 6pm later in the day. Replacement buses are in operation in the meantime. It is unclear how many passengers are likely to be affected by the delays, which come at a time when many Swedes are returning home from their summer holidays.

 

MACEDONIA(SKOPJE) - According to incoming reports, an explosion has occurred at a local police station in Macedonia's capital, Skopje, early on 30 July. An unidentified explosive device was detonated in the station's parking lot; there were no casualties following the bomb blast, although several police vehicles were damaged. No immediate claims of responsibility have been made. An increased security force presence is likely to remain in effect in the vicinity of the station for the near-term. Additional checkpoints and security patrols are likely; these could result in road travel disruptions. Persons operating in Skopje are advised to avoid the affected area and should anticipate an increased security presence in strategic areas of the city at this time.

SYRIA(HAMA, IDLIB & LATAKIA GOVERNORATES) - A rebel coalition, the Army of Conquest (Jaish al-Fatih), launched an offensive in the Sahl al-Ghab plain area of north western Syria on 26 July. The coalition includes fighters from Ahrar al Sham and Jabhat al-Nusra. The plain lies largely in Hama governorate's Al-Suqaylabiyah district. The rebels have captured a number of areas from the government in recent days, including areas near Jisr al-Shughour, located in the western part of the largely rebel-held Idlib governorate. The regime has countered with dozens of air strikes in Idlib and Hama governorates. The rebel offensive will place significant pressure on the regime, which continues to struggle with both manpower and resource constraints. Should the rebels succeed in capturing and holding territory in Sahl al-Ghab, they will be in a position to strike into the pro-regime Alawite Muslim coastal heartland (Latakia and Tartus governorates) or south towards Hama city. Should rebels move on Hama, regime forces further north, in Aleppo, could be cut off from the regime's central territory between Hama, Homs and the capital, Damascus.  Clients are advised against all travel to Syria. Persons intending to operate in the country should do so following consultation with their security provider. Crisis management plans and route risk assessments should be regularly compiled or reviewed.

PAKISTAN(KARACHI) - At least five suspected militants were killed in an armed encounter with police in the low-income Zia Colony area of Orangi Town, in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, overnight on 29/30 July. According to reports, a group of suspected militants opened fire on a police patrol. Security forces returned fire, killing five of the perpetrators, while the remainder fled. Police recovered weapons and explosives in a vehicle abandoned by the militants. This incident serves to underscore the extreme threat of terrorism in Pakistan, and to highlight the deep penetration of militant groups and associated criminal syndicates and individuals in Karachi. Given the city's size and the limited capabilities of local law enforcement authorities, Karachi provides militant groups and individuals ample cover from which to operate, especially in densely populated low-income neighbourhoods. It is likely that an elevated security force presence will be in place in the affected area in the short-term.  Clients are advised against all travel to Pakistan. Persons in Karachi are advised to avoid the affected area at this time and should monitor local developments closely. Due to the extreme threat of terrorism, robust residential, travel and personal security protocols should be implemented; travel to low-income neighbourhoods is advised against, as is travel after dark. All travel in the city should be conducted in the presence of a security escort.

 

MOLDOVA - Countrywide protests against energy tariff increases are expected to be held in Moldova on 3 August. Protesters are expected to gather at various locations across the country, including the capital, Chisinau, and town of Vulcanesti. Further information regarding the planned protests is unavailable; however, unconfirmed reports indicate that protesters are expected to gather at 17:00 local time. Protesters will most likely gather outside the National Energy Regulatory Agency buildings, official government buildings and/or city parks in city/town centres across the country. The forthcoming protests are expected to be well attended and will likely result in localised traffic disruptions. Related demonstrations held on 29 July indicate that the planned protest is likely to conclude without incident; however, there is an incidental risk of violence at such gatherings. Clients in Moldova on 3 August should exercise caution and monitor local media for updates regarding the planned demonstrations. All demonstrations and related gatherings should be avoided as the possibility of violence cannot be discounted. Furthermore, as the demonstrations are expected to result in significant travel disruptions, clients should make allowances for delays and plan accordingly.

LIBYA(SEBHA, BRAK, QIRAH, SHUWAIRIF, BANI WALID & SIRTE) - The 28 July sentencing to death of several Muammar al-Gaddafi-era personalities, including al-Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, has sparked disruptive protests in a number of areas of Libya. Since 28 July, protests have been reported in Sebha (Manshiya district) by former regime supporters within the Qaddadfa tribe, in Brak, Qirah and Shuwairif where the Magarha tribe (supportive of former intelligence chief, Abdullah Senussi) are based and in Bani Walid and Sirte. No violence has been reported at these events.  The sentencing may generate further protests in the coming days in areas where local communities are supportive of the former regime or of personalities within the trial group. In addition to the blockade of roads, demonstrators in the south may also attempt to cut water supplies to the north, specifically to the capital, Tripoli. This tactic has been utilised in the past. The risk of violence at all future related events is considered elevated. The risk of a spike in the frequency of protests and violence at these events will increase should the sentences be carried out. Clients are advised against all travel to Libya. Persons in the country are advised to conduct travel following consultation with their security provider. Crisis management plans should be regularly reviewed and updated. Persons operating in Libya over the immediate-term are advised to monitor trial-related developments closely. Heightened caution is advised in recent protest-affected areas and on routes linking cities in the south to the capital. All street protests and road blockades should be avoided.

 

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