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Travelers are urged to use caution as well as prepare for travel delays in many parts of the world:

UNITED STATES(CALIFORNIA/WASHINGTON) - (Update) Evacuation orders have been issued by authorities amid ongoing wildfires affecting parts of Washington and northern California, in the US, on 21 August. The Aeneas valley in the Okanogan County, in Washington, has been evacuated due the advancing fire. At least three firefighters have been killed and four injured since 19 August. Significant infrastructural damages have been reported in Okanogan County; 300 National Guard personnel have been deployed to the affected area to assist with the firefighting operations and evacuations. In northern California, particularly the Sierra Nevada near Kings Canyon National Park, wildfires are ongoing. Fresno County has been affected; evacuation orders remain in place for the affected areas. Known locally as 'Rocky Fire', the wildfire has prompted the evacuation of approximately 13,000 people since it first started on 29 July. Authorities assert that the fire is 20 percent contained. Road closures and localised travel disruptions should be anticipated in the vicinity of the ongoing fires. Furthermore, disruptions to utilities should be expected in the worst-affected areas for the near-term. Further fires are probable in the coming weeks. Persons in California and Washington states, particularly in fire-affected communities, are advised to monitor local media closely for updates and advisories. Travellers should confirm the status of all road routes prior to travel. This is particularly relevant for intercity travel in California and Washington. Persons travelling by car near fire-affected areas should keep windows closed and ensure that the air-conditioning systems are adjusted to prevent smoke from entering the vehicle.

UNITED KINGDOM(UTTLESFORD DISTRICT, ESSEX) - British trade union, GMB, has called for strike action at London Stansted Airport. Security workers affiliated with the union are expected to participate in the strike action from 23 August at 03:45 to 13:00 local time. A second strike is anticipated on 31 August, from 03:45 to 23:59. The strike has been called in response to an ongoing wage dispute. Strikes occur frequently in the UK. These often result in disruptions to public services, including transport systems. The strike action is anticipated to cause significant travel disruptions; delays should be expected. Clients planning to transit through London Stansted Airport on the aforementioned days should make allocations for potential delays to their travel plans.

ATG has identified travelers who may be affected by this strike and has notified the appropriate Travel Managers.

UNITED KINGDOM(GREATER LONDON, SOUTH EAST, SOUTH WEST & WEST MIDLANDS) - Rail travel disruptions are expected in the United Kingdom as unionised rail workers employed by First Great Western (FGW) are set to engage a 24-hour strike from 00:01 to 23:59 local time on 23 August. National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union members at FGW have called for the action in opposition to the introduction of new Hitachi intercity trains, which they say will lead to job cuts. Additional strike action has been called from 29 August, when a 72-hour strike is scheduled to take place. FGW operates rail services in Greater London and in England's South East, South West and West Midlands regions, as well as in southern Wales. Contingency plans are expected to be implemented to avoid significant disruptions; however, delays and some cancellations of services should be anticipated from 23 August. The 29 August strike may still be cancelled at short notice, as discussions between FGW and the union are ongoing. Clients intending to make use of FGW rail services on the affected days are advised to contact the rail operator directly or their travel provider to enquire about the status of services.

INDIA(AIR INDIA) - A number of Air India flights from across the country have been running behind schedule because of an impromptu protest put up by the airline's cockpit crew. Among these are two Mumbai-Delhi flights which have been inordinately delayed. "A number of pilots who were rostered have not turned up for duty," said an Air India source. Sources said that the pilots had put up a protest against civil aviation ministry's decision to amend the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 so as to remove pilots and engineers from the category of "workmen". The move would deny them protection granted during labour strife. AI suspends pilot who left home late for flight, delaying it by 2 hours "The AI pilots had also expressed their displeasure over the airline's decison to appoint Capt Harpreet Singh as the new executive director, flight safety," said an AI official.

SPAIN - Following a periodic review, red24 has amended its crime risk rating for Spain from medium to low. Subsequent to this change, red24 has lowered its overall rating for Spain from medium to low. Overall crime rates in the country are assessed to be generally low, with major urban centres such as the capital, Madrid, and Barcelona carrying an elevated risk. The most likely form of crime to impact on foreign visitors is petty in nature and includes pickpocketing and bag-snatching. It should be noted that thieves often work in small groups and employ a variety of distraction techniques, including posing as persons in need or impersonating police officers. Petty crime hotspots include major urban centres, popular tourist sights and public transport hubs. The risk of being affected by crime increases during the summer months, from June to September. Violent crime, while not common, sporadically affects foreign nationals. Persons travelling in Spain are advised to adopt basic security precautions, including exercising a high level of personal security awareness at all times.

GREECE - Greece's legislative elections will reportedly be held on 20 September. Elections were not due to be held until February 2019, but the announcement was made following the resignation of the prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, on 20 August. Greece has been affected by regular anti-government protests in recent months. These have largely been in response to austerity measures associated with bailout conditions linked to the government's loan agreements with its creditors. The results of a referendum held on 5 July indicated that the bailout conditions were rejected by the majority of the vote. Nonetheless, on 14 August, the Greek Parliament approved a bill accepting bailout conditions and subsequently securing the country's third bailout package. Tsipras is expected to lead the ruling Syriza party into the elections amid heightened tensions with opposition groups. The possibility of politically motivated unrest across the country ahead of the elections is considered elevated. Likely gathering points include public squares, city halls and government buildings. Anti-government protests in Greece have turned violent at times and police have responded with heavy-handed tactics. As such, the threat of confrontations at all protests sites is considered elevated. Clients in Greece during the upcoming election cycle 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 20 September, as well as the period immediately afterwards. All street gatherings should be avoided as a standard precaution.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA(BATA) - The Sociedad de Electricidad de Guinea Ecuatorial (SEGESA), Equatorial Guinea's national electricity provider, has warned that ongoing outages in the country's commercial capital, Bata, are expected to continue in the short-term. Water shortages at the Djibloho hydroelectric dam and increasing power supply demands in the city have left the city without a stable supply since early August. Authorities anticipate the situation to be rectified by October 2015. Persons currently in or intending to travel to Bata should anticipate disruptions to banking, internet, telecommunications, transportation and other electronic-based services at this time, and plan accordingly. Furthermore, travel delays caused by traffic lights not functioning should be expected in urban areas across the country; clients are advised to make allowances for increased journey times.

ISRAEL/SYRIA - The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) reportedly fired missiles at numerous targets in Syria's Quneitra governorate late on 20 August. Media reports indicate that at least one person was killed and seven others wounded in the strikes. Further Israeli strikes targeting Syrian military positions near the Golan Heights border in Quneitra governorate on 21 August left at least four people dead. The Israeli government stated on 21 August that the strikes were conducted after four rockets were fired into Galilee and Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. It is not clear which group fired the projectiles, although authorities suspect the Islamic Jihad militant group. The rocketfire resulted in only minor material damages. Since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, the IDF has maintained a heightened alert level in the Golan Heights region. Projectiles, including rockets and mortars, have previously been fired from Syria into the Golan Heights. Further such incidents are possible. The Israeli military has generally responded with tank and artillery fire. It should be noted that the potential for any escalation of a minor incident into a larger confrontation remains a medium-term concern. Clients are advised against all travel to Syria due to ongoing conflict and the elevated threats of terrorism and kidnapping. Clients intending to travel to the Golan Heights area should remain on well-travelled routes, due to the threat of landmines, and should not approach the shared border with Syria.

MACEDONIA(KUMANOVO & GEVGELIJA) - Macedonia declared a state of emergency and deployed additional security force personnel to its southern and northern borders on 20 August to prevent and control an influx of illegal immigrants. The focus of the operations has been the border crossings in the Kumanovo area (north) and Gevgelija area (south). On 21 August, the security forces fired tear gas at a large crowd of immigrants at the Gevgelija border crossing. At least five people were wounded during the confrontation. Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants have traveled into and through Eastern Europe from conflict zones in Asia and the Middle East in 2015. Local authorities across the region have struggled to cope with the influx and a number of states have or are in the process of taking steps to secure their borders. In Macedonia, clients should anticipate further low-level clashes at border crossings over the near-term. Large immigrant flows and security measures could also result in delays at crossing points. Clients in the affected areas should exercise heightened caution and avoid all large gatherings as a precaution. The status of border crossings should be checked prior to departure. Itineraries should also be adjusted for potential delays and disruptions.

YEMEN(IBB, TAIZ & HADRAMAWT) - (Update) Clashes between Houthi fighters and military forces loyal to President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in Yemen's central city of Ibb left at least 21 combatants dead on 20 August. Air strikes and artillery fire also resulted in dozens of casualties in Taiz on 20 and 21 August. The fighting between the two sides persisted despite recent claims by pro-Hadi forces that they had captured Taiz. Elsewhere, suspected Islamic State (IS)-linked militants attacked Yemen military barracks in Thamud, Hadramawt governorate, on 20 August, leaving four soldiers dead. On the same day, a bomb detonated at the offices of the governor of Aden, killing four people. The pro-Hadi alliance, which includes a Saudi Arabia-led coalition, has made significant gains against the Houthis and their allies in recent weeks in southern Yemen. Houthi resistance persists in central Yemen and fighting here is likely to continue for the near-term. Islamist militants, including IS-linked groups and Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), are also expected to continue operations across the country, coinciding with the conflict. Clients are advised against all travel to Yemen, excluding the Socotra archipelago. Persons in Yemen should travel with a close protection officer. Crisis management plans (evacuation and contingency) should be regularly reviewed and updated. Travellers should request regular route risk assessments from their security provider.

CHINA - (Update) Further protests over explosions that occurred at a storage facility in Tianjin, leaving at least 114 people dead on 12 August, are possible in urban centres across China in the coming days. Within Tianjin specifically, protests have been reported since 17 August; residents which were evacuated from the affected area have been staging demonstrations demanding compensation for their homes which have been significantly affected due to the explosion. In addition, they have been protesting what is perceived as the government's lax regulatory supervision, which enabled large quantities of hazardous material to be stored near densely populated areas. Additionally, environmental activists have reported high levels of chemical contamination, most notably cyanide, in the water reserves and atmosphere in the affected area; at least 3,000 tons of toxic chemicals remain at the site of the blast. Four fires have been reported at the blast site on 21 August; these have since been doused by firefighters. Environmental concerns have become an increasingly emotive issue, instigating recent demonstrations in China. Environmentalists have alleged that air quality in Tianjin and other major urban centres has diminished considerably with increased industrialisation and this latest incident only serves to exacerbate the situation. In Tianjin specifically, China's rainy season, which generally runs from April to September, is likely to hamper cleanup and chemical containment operations and may serve to further spread contaminated water sources. Elsewhere in the country, protests are possible in urban centres in light of the government's perceived poor environmental track record and response to incidents of this nature. Indeed, protests have already been held in the cities of Shenyang and Jiangmen, in Liaoning and Guangdong provinces respectively, by locals concerned by the close proximity of local industrial and chemical facilities to residential areas. Although protests of this nature have not resulted in widespread violence in the past, the emotive nature of the issue does suggest that violence is possible, especially given the heavy-handed response of security forces in dealing with dissent. Localised traffic delays are possible in the immediate vicinity of any protests or gatherings. Persons currently in Tianjin are advised to avoid the affected area for the short- to medium-term and to monitor local media for developments. Clients should abide by the directives of authorities and plan for localised travel delays in the event of any protest activity. All gatherings and associated protests should be avoided as a precaution. Persons currently in Tianjin should take precautions against consuming toxic chemicals by drinking only bottled water.

BANGLADESH(CHITTAGONG) - Transport owners and unions have embarked on an indefinite transport strike in Bangladesh's south eastern city, Chittagong, on 20 August. The strike, which began at 18:00 local time, was called by the Bangladesh Road Transport Worker's Federation, in protest of the alleged kidnapping of a transport worker by persons claiming to be police officers late on 19 August. The action is expected to remain in effect until the disputes related to the alleged kidnapping have been resolved. The transport strike has resulted in widespread travel disruptions throughout the city, affecting public transport services, particularly bus services. While unconfirmed, associated protests at transport hubs as well as road blockades remain a possibility during the strike period. It should be noted that there is a threat of violent civil unrest during all strikes and associated protest action in Bangladesh. Due to the indefinite nature of the strike, further disruptions to transport services are anticipated for the near-term at least. Persons in Chittagong are advised to monitor local media for updates and developments and avoid all large gatherings and security force concentrations as a precaution. Clients should anticipate significant travel disruptions and should confirm the status of their travel arrangements with their respective service providers.

INDIA(NASHIK) - A large-scale Hindu religious festival, Kumbh Mela, is underway in India's city of Nashik, in Maharashtra state, on 20 August. Although the festival is already underway, tens of millions of people will be in attendance on peak days, which will be on 26 and 29 August, as well as on 13, 18 and 25 September. The festival will focus on the Trimbakeshwar temple, which is located some 25km south west of Nashik, and the Godavari River, which is in close proximity to the temple. As a result, over 20,000 additional police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in and around Nashik and the Trimbakeshwar temple to ensure security. The increased security measures in place are in response to the presence of large numbers of people and the threat of stampedes. There is also an ongoing elevated threat of terrorism against Hindus from Islamist extremists. The Kumbh Mela provides militants with a significant opportunity to conduct attacks against Hindu interests. Given the elevated security in Nashik and its surrounds, the ability of extremists to target religious sites in this area is reduced; however, attacks against devotees travelling to Nashik or against other prominent Hindu sites in Maharashtra are possible in the near-term. Clients should note that the large number of people in and travelling to Nashik will place enormous strain on the public transport system. In addition to the anticipated road travel disruptions, the increased number of road travellers also increases the safety threat to road users. Clients in or planning to travel to the vicinity of Nashik in the coming weeks are advised to monitor local developments closely, exercise caution in the vicinity of large crowds and remain cognisant of the security and travel safety risks.

ECUADOR(QUITO) - The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) has called for anti-government demonstrations in Ecuador's capital, Quito, on 21 August. A sit-in is expected to take place at Parque el Arbolito from 14:00 local time. Protesters are also expected to gather in the vicinity of the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS) building at 17:00. The rallies will be supported by other civic organisations in the city. Ecuador has been affected by anti-government protests in recent weeks. Many events have related to calls for the resignation of President Rafael Correa; the most recent proposed action has also been called in response to various other socio-economic concerns, including constitutional amendments and the presence of foreign companies in the country. These protests have generally been well supported and have largely concluded peacefully, although low-level clashes between protesters and security forces have taken place on occasion. As such, low-level confrontations at all upcoming events cannot be discounted. Localised road traffic disruptions should be anticipated in the vicinity of the aforementioned gatherings. Clients in Quito on 21 August are advised to avoid large street gatherings as a standard precaution and adjust itineraries to accommodate potential road travel disruptions.

LEBANON(BEIRUT) - Activist group, You Stink, has called for an anti-waste protest in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, on 22 August. Participants are expected to gather at the Nejmeh Square at 18:00 local time. Related protests held on 19 August in downtown Beirut resulted in low-level clashes between protesters and police forces. According to reports, police forces resorted to the use of water cannons in a bid to disperse the crowd. Several members of the group were arrested. The ongoing protests are being held in response to the environmental problem caused by the accumulation of waste in the city. Furthermore, activist groups and residents are demanding that the government officials responsible for the poor implementation of policy, which has resulted in the current waste management crisis, be held accountable. Central Lebanon has been affected by a waste management crisis since mid-July when the Naameh landfill was closed. Waste has accumulated in Beirut and elsewhere, prompting disruptive protests in downtown Beirut in recent weeks. Protesters have previously blocked the primary highway linking Beirut with southern Lebanon in the Jiyeh area, as well as the Amir Bachir road near the Environment Affairs Ministry and Herna street, in the vicinity of the Central Bank in Beirut. A solution to the waste management crisis over the near-term is not expected and further protests are anticipated. The threat of low-level confrontations and roadblocks, including in the aforementioned areas, is considered high. Clients are advised against all non-essential travel to Lebanon due to ongoing insecurity. Persons in the capital and its immediate surrounds should avoid all street protests. Prior to intercity road travel, travellers should check the status of road routes with their security provider or the local authorities.

UKRAINE - Independence Day celebrations are set to take place in cities across Ukraine on 24 August. Military parades are expected in the capital, Kiev, and other major urban centres such as Odessa. The day will coincide with ongoing hostilities in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. As such, opposition to the events on Independence Day may prompt protest action and civil disturbances in urban centres. In addition, the possibility of terrorist attacks by dissident elements targeting Independence Day events in the capital or elsewhere cannot be dismissed. Indeed, security forces have been put on high alert for the day following reports that separatist militants from the east of the country may seek to carry out attacks on commemorative events in Kiev and elsewhere. Increased security measures are anticipated both prior to and on 24 August. As a result of this and the commemorative events that are expected to take place, localised travel disruptions should be expected. Persons in Ukraine are advised to anticipate localised traffic disruptions due to Independence Day events and associated security measures. Clients are further advised against all travel to the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, due to instability and frequent clashes involving armed forces and pro-Russia separatist militants. All non-essential travel to the eastern Kharkiv region is also advised against, due to the threat of potentially violent civil unrest. Finally, all travel to the Crimea region is advised against due to political uncertainty and the presence of armed personnel, including Russian forces, throughout the region.

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