CANADA(TORONTO AIRPORT) - With much fanfare, the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Pedestrian Tunnel opened Thursday. The tunnel, which was built under Toronto Harbor on Lake Ontario, provides a direct connection from the airport to downtown Toronto by a public-private partnership.  It was built to decrease the amount of time it takes for passengers to get to the island airport and eliminate the need to travel to the airport by ferry. Passengers arriving at the mainland terminal lobby take one of six elevators to go down 105 feet (32 meters) to the 610-foot (186-meter) long 36-foot (11-meter) wide tunnel.  Once at the airport, escalators and elevators transport passengers to the airport's ground floor lobby. The airport, named after Air Marshal Billy Bishop, a World War I flying ace, is served by Air Canada Express and Porter Airlines as well as by civil aviation and air ambulances.  It is the country's ninth-busiest airport by passenger numbers and 14th by aircraft movements.

 

UNITED STATES(CALIFORNIA(LAKE, YOLO & COLUSA COUNTIES)) - (Update) A wildfire is still ongoing in the Lake, Yolo and Colusa counties of the US state of California on 4 August. Known locally as 'Rocky Fire', the wildfire has prompted the evacuation of approximately 13,000 people since it first started on 29 July. Emergency services and fire crews have been deployed to affected areas; weather conditions continue to exacerbate efforts to contain the wildfires. A number of thoroughfares remain closed as a result of the fire, including both directions of Ogulin County Road and sections of Jerusalem Valley Road. Authorities assert that the fire is 12 percent contained; approximately 25,090 of land has been burned to date. Temporary evacuation centres have been established at Middletown High School and Kelseyville High School in Lake county. Rocky Fire coincides with a particularly dry period in the region and the areas' summer months. The cause of the wildfire is as yet unknown, although authorities assert that ongoing hot and windy weather conditions may have been ideal for wildfire combustion. Wildfires are highly unpredictable and susceptible to rapid changes in intensity and direction; as such, further disruptions to travel, including road closures, are possible if the fires continue to spread unabated. Persons in California, particularly in fire affected communities, are advised to monitor local media closely for updates and advisories. Travellers should reconfirm the status of all road routes prior to travel. This is particularly relevant for inter-city travel in California. Persons travelling near fire affected areas should keep windows closed and ensure that the air-conditioning system is adjusted to prevent smoke from entering the vehicle.

 

MYANMAR - (Update) Flooding continues to impact on much of Myanmar. According to reports released on 3 August, the death toll now stands at 47, with approximately 200,000 people affected. Numerous communities have been cut off due to landslide- and flood-damaged roads, bridges and rail lines. In response to the flooding, the regions and states of Rakhine, Chin, Sagaing and Magway have been declared natural disaster areas by the government. The majority of casualties have taken place in Rakhine state, in the west of the country. In Chin state's administrative capital, Haka, 700 homes have been destroyed; the city has been cut off by landslides. In the Kalay district of Sagaing region, 400,000 people have been cut off from outside assistance.  Myanmar is subject to heavy monsoon rains between May and November. As such, this period often results in flooding in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous regions. Due to the country's poor infrastructure, travel to some regions can be seriously disrupted during this period. Further heavy rainfall conducive to both flooding and landslides is likely in the coming weeks. It should also be noted that once floodwaters subside and more areas become accessible, the death toll is expected to increase. Clients in or planning to travel to Myanmar, particularly outside of main urban centres, should do so following consultation with the local authorities. Travellers should seek to identify which roads in their intended area are closed. Caution is advised across the country in flood-affected areas, near rivers and in mountainous regions. Finally, please note that due to a number of security concerns, clients are advised against all non-essential travel to Kachin state and to within 10km of the borders with China, Laos, Thailand and India.

SIERRA LEONE(TONKOLILI DISTRICT) - New cases of Ebola have been reported in the central Tonkolili district of the Northern province in Sierra Leone. According to recent reports, one man is said to have died after contracting the disease in the country's capital, Freetown, in recent days. Two new reported cases are relatives of the deceased victim, who subsequently travelled back to the Tonkolili district. At least 500 people have been quarantined as of 4 August. The central Tonkolili district has been declared Ebola free for the past five months. Sierra Leone continues to fight ongoing Ebola infections, which have mostly been reported in the north western communities of Kambia and Port Loko, which remain under quarantine conditions. New Ebola infections were also reported in Freetown. Although decreasing, Ebola infections continue to be reported in parts of the country. Due to the current Ebola outbreak, clients are advised against all non-essential travel to Sierra Leone. Furthermore, persons in the country in a non-essential capacity are advised to consider departing via commercial means, where safe and possible to do so. It should be noted that the advisory is in response to various movement- and travel-restrictive measures, including a reduction in commercial air travel options, which are compromising both entry into and exit from Sierra Leone. Foreign visitors are generally considered to be at a low risk of contracting the Ebola virus, provided that they are not involved in any high-risk activities, such as health care, burial practices and/or other endeavours which would necessitate close contact with infected individuals.

 

NIGERIA(EKILA VILLAGE, NIGER STATE) - According to local authorities, a Lebanese national was abducted by unknown gunmen in Nigeria's north western Niger state on 2 August. The victim, who was employed by the Enerco Nigeria construction company, was allegedly abducted at 17:00 local time, while travelling to a construction site located in Tegina. The motivation behind the kidnapping remains unclear; authorities are investigating the incident. The abduction follows an unrelated kidnapping of an Argentinian national by armed gunmen in the town of Kontagora, also in Niger state. There is a high threat of kidnapping across Nigeria. Although the perpetrators of this latest abduction are unknown, organised criminal syndicates and Islamist militants are known to conduct kidnappings and have an operational presence in Niger state. Both groups periodically abduct local and foreign nationals for the purposes of ransom and extortion. Most victims are released unharmed after being held for relatively short periods of time. Due to various security concerns, all non-essential travel to Nigeria is advised against. Persons in or planning to travel to the country are advised to implement comprehensive travel, residential and personal security measures and consider the use of a security escort, particularly if travelling outside of major urban centres. Clients are further advised to avoid travel after dark as far as practically possible.
  
SOUTH AFRICA(DURBAN, KWAZULI-NATAL) - According to local reports, a diesel and petrol tanker collided on the N2 North at the Sanria Road overhead bridge at approximately 04:00 local time in Durban, South Africa, on 4 August. Fuel from both trucks spread across the road and caught alight, resulting in road closures. Although the fire has since been extinguished, the N2 highway remains closed. All N2 northbound traffic is being diverted to the M4. N2 southbound traffic is being diverted to the M7. Associated delays should be anticipated. Reports indicate that one truck was parked in the breakdown lane when it was rear-ended by the second truck, causing the driver of the former to swerve and collide with the barriers between the north and southbound lanes. Persons in Durban scheduled to transit via the N2 highway are advised to monitor local media and emergency broadcast channels for updates and advisories from the authorities. Furthermore, significant travel disruptions should be anticipated; as such, clients are advised to make allowances for delays and plan accordingly.

 

COTE D'IVOIRE(ABIDJAN) - According to recent reports, a Lebanese national was fatally shot by unknown gunmen in an armed robbery in Abidjan, the economic capital of Cote d'Ivoire, on 3 August. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the incident occurred at a stop light while the victim was in his car. No further details regarding the incident are currently available. Crime levels are considered to be high throughout Cote d'Ivoire, including Abidjan. Violent crimes, such as carjacking and armed robbery are regularly reported and have affected foreign travellers in the past; foreign nationals are typically targeted due to their perceived wealth. Criminals are usually armed and have been known to use force, as evidenced by this latest incident. It should be noted that opportunistic armed robberies are likely to remain a security threat in Cote d'Ivoire in the short- to medium-term, at least. Persons in Abidjan should remain aware of the prevailing risks of petty and violent crime. Robust security precautions should be implemented at all times. These include being alert to suspicious behaviour, being prepared to let belongings go in the event of someone trying to steal them, and avoiding walking around alone or after dark. Client are reminded that all non-essential travel to Cote d'Ivoire is advised against.

YEMEN(LAHIJ GOVERNORATE) - Forces aligned to President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi reportedly seized control of Yemen's Al Anad military air base, located north of the city of Lahij, from Houthi-aligned rebels on 3 August. The capture follows heavy fighting that left dozens of militants dead in the region. The assault in Lahij began after troops and armoured vehicles from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates arrived at the port of Aden; the involvement of coalition-led ground troops is a notable escalation in the conflict. Elsewhere, fighting and air strikes continued to be reported in Taiz on 3 August. Yemen has been affected by ongoing elevated levels of conflict since March involving the Houthis and military forces loyal to President Hadi. The capture of the Al Anad air base follows a recent success of pro-Hadi forces in capturing Aden on 21 July. However, despite the support of the Saudi-led air coalition the Houthis have maintained control of multiple areas between the Lahij and Saada governorates. Ground fighting has been particularly heavy in the Lahij, Taiz, Al-Bayda and Marib governorates. The fighting is likely to persist across the country in the near-term. In addition, violence attributed to Islamist extremists, including militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), is expected to continue.  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.

PHILIPPINES(MASBATE PROVINCE) - Military forces clashed with New People's Army (NPA) rebels in the Philippines' province of Masbate, located in the Bicol region, on 3 August. The confrontation was sparked by an initial NPA ambush of a military convoy in the Cawayan municipality. The ambush and gunfight left one soldier and four rebels dead. The gunfight lasted approximately 15 minutes. Following the incident, additional troops were deployed to the affected region. The NPA is the militant wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). NPA members and government troops regularly engage in small-scale skirmishes in remote and rural areas of the country. NPA attacks generally do not affect civilians or foreign nationals. The group's activities are, to a large extent, confined to the southern Mindanao region and, to a lesser extent, the rural areas of Luzon (of which Bicol is a part) and the Visayas. The NPA's capacity to carry out attacks has been considerably eroded in recent years; this is due to counterinsurgency operations that have been carried out by the central government. Nonetheless, as this latest incident illustrates, insurgent attacks do occur. Clients intending to travel in rural and remote areas of the Bicol, particularly Masbate province, over the near-term should consider travelling with a trusted local contact who is familiar with the local security environment. Travel at night and in recent violence-affected communities should be avoided.
    

RUSSIA(INGUSHETIA & KABARDINO-BALKARIA) - Coordinated security operations in Russia's North Caucasus region on 2 and 3 August resulted in at least 14 fatalities. A security operation in the Ingushetia region left eight militants dead on 2 August. A subsequent operation in Nalchik, the regional capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, left six militants dead. The authorities stated that the militants were suspected of terrorist crimes, including the killing of police officers and extortion. Security operations targeting separatist fighters and Islamist militants are regularly conducted in the North Caucasus region. The operations are carried out in response to militant attacks targeting security forces and low-level officials in the region, notably in Dagestan, but also in Kabardino-Balkaria, Chechnya and Ingushetia. Operations take place in both major urban centres and rural locations, and routinely result in multiple casualties. Armed attacks and associated targeted security operations are likely to persist in the North Caucasus region in the short- to medium-term.  Due to the high levels of violence, instability and terrorism, clients are advised against all travel to Kabardino-Balkaria (including the Mount Elbrus region), Ingushetia, Dagestan and Chechnya. In addition, due to numerous security concerns, clients are advised against all non-essential travel to Karachay-Cherkessia, North Ossetia and Stavropol's south eastern districts of Budyonnovsky, Levokumsy, Neftekumsky, Stepnovsky and Kurskoy, which border Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria. Persons currently in Nalchik are advised to implement robust and extensive personal, residential and travel security measures.

 

INDIA(TAMIL NADU STATE) - A general strike (known locally as a bandh), is currently underway in India's south eastern state of Tamil Nadu on 4 August and is expected to end at 18:00 local time. The strike was called by a number of opposition parties, including the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India. The agitation is in protest against the state government's liquor policy. There have been no confirmed reports of violence associated with the strike on 4 August, although further details are currently unavailable. Incidents of violence and vandalism relating to the liquor policy were reported in the state capital, Chennai, as well as in Salem, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Marthandam on 30 July and 1 August. Disruptions to business and travel should be expected for the remainder of 4 August due to the strike. Furthermore, in light of recent events, the possibility that related protests will result in disruptive action or descend into violent clashes cannot be discounted; security forces will not hesitate to use force in quelling any dissent. Persons in Tamil Nadu are advised to monitor local media for developments and updates regarding the strike action and possible associated demonstrations. All street demonstrations and concentrations of security forces should be avoided as a precaution.

 

NICARAGUA(MANAGUA, JUIGALPA, LEON, SOMOTO & MASAYA) - Nicaragua's opposition group, the Independent Liberal Party (PLI), has called for multiple protests across the country, including in the capital, Managua, on 5 August. The protests will be supported by other civic organisations. In the capital, participants are expected to gather in the vicinity of the headquarters of the Supreme Electoral Council in the city centre. Protests are also anticipated at the Departmental Electoral Council in Juigalpa (Chontales department), Leon (Leon department), Somoto (Madriz department) and Masaya (Masaya department). While the exact details of the protests are unknown, precedent suggests that protesters will gather from 09:00 local time in the vicinity of government buildings and central squares.  The protests form part of the group's weekly campaign to demand fair elections and a change of electoral magistrates ahead of the 2016 presidential vote. Further such demonstrations are anticipated in the near-term. On 8 July, several demonstrators were injured in clashes with the police in a related protest outside the Supreme Electoral Council in Managua. The police used teargas to disperse the crowds and blockaded roads in the immediate vicinity, disrupting traffic in the area. In light of this, the risk of low-level clashes at the upcoming protests cannot be discounted. Additionally, localised road travel disruptions are to be expected in the protest-affected areas.  Clients in the aforementioned cities on 5 August are advised to avoid all large street gatherings as a precaution and adjust itineraries to accommodate for potential road travel disruptions.

 

PAKISTAN - (Update) Various trade and market associations in Pakistan are expected to embark upon countrywide strikes and associated protests on 5 August. The industrial action, which has been called in opposition to a tax imposed on all bank transactions, is expected to be observed in major urban centres countrywide, including Lahore, Karachi and the capital, Islamabad. Traders are calling upon the government to withdraw the 0.6 percent withholding tax, which they allege will negatively affect trade and commerce. Although the government has subsequently proposed reducing the tax to 0.3 percent, traders' associations have rejected this.  Related strikes held on 1 and 3 August resulted in significant business disruptions. Similar disruptions are expected on 5 August as a considerable number of traders' associations and businesses are expected to observe the strike. Residual disruptions to banking, internet, telecommunications and other electronics-based services as a result of the industrial action cannot be discounted. In the earlier strikes, there were no reports of large-scale protests associated with the agitation. However, should demonstrations take place, as with all protests in Pakistan there is a high threat of violence, with clashes between protesters and security forces regularly reported. Localised travel disruptions should be anticipated in the vicinity of any protests or gatherings that may take place.  Due to a number of ongoing concerns, clients are advised against all travel to Pakistan. Persons currently in the country should anticipate disruptions to businesses and essential services on strike-affected days. Clients are advised to plan accordingly and monitor local media sources for updates and advisories. Clients are further advised to avoid any associated protest action as a precaution.

BOLIVIA(POTOSI DEPARTMENT & LA PAZ) - A strike initiated in July by the Potosi Civic Committee (Comcipo), an alliance of unions and other social organisations in Potosi department, was suspended on 2 August. The decision to end the strike followed unsuccessful talks between Comcipo representatives and the government. Protesters that had gathered in the capital, La Paz, returned to Potosi city on 30 July. Despite the suspension of the strike and the resumption of services and operations, further disruptions to services and operations should be anticipated in the near-term. In addition, Comcipo has stated its intention to continue to stage demonstrations over the issue in the near-term; these are likely to centre on Potosi city, although related protests are possible in La Paz, Sucre and Tarija. The first protest is expected in Potosi city on 6 August. Details pertaining to the protest have not been disclosed.  The agitation was initially called in early July to demand greater investment in the infrastructure and economy of Potosi department. The strike resulted in severe disruptions to public transportation and the supply of basic commodities. Further disruptions to services and operations should be anticipated in the near-term. In addition, related protests are possible in the aforementioned areas, including along major thoroughfares or in urban centres. The risk of violence at all protests cannot be ruled out. Persons in Bolivia are advised to monitor local media for developments and updates regarding the protests. Clients are advised to avoid all large street gatherings as a precaution. All scheduled transport services in Potosi should be reconfirmed with your travel provider or the relevant transport authority prior to departure.

URUGUAY - Public transport workers affiliated with various transport unions, including UNOTT and PIT-CNT, will participate in a 24-hour strike across Uruguay on 6 August. The work stoppage is set to affect all public transportation services on the day.  The strike has been organised over labour-related issues, including wage increases. An increased demand for alternative transport options should be expected on the day. In addition, striking workers may stage protests as part of the strike action. These will likely centre on the capital, Montevideo. Low-level confrontations at all protests cannot be discounted, posing an incidental risk to foreign travellers. Persons in Uruguay on 6 August 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. All large street gatherings should be avoided as a standard precaution.

 

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