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Travelers are urged to use caution as well as prepare for travel delays in many parts of the world:
  
GERMANY - Lufthansa's (LHAG.DE) chief executive defended the German airline's hard line on strikes on Wednesday after pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) threatened further walkouts in an row over retirement benefits and cost cuts. VC said earlier the German flag carrier had rejected its offer of concessions in a long-running dispute that has seen a dozen strikes over the last 18 months and cost the airline hundreds of millions of euros. Walkouts could start any time and could hit Lufthansa, its cargo arm Lufthansa Cargo and its budget carrier Germanwings, VC said in a statement. "If strikes are the price to pay to make Lufthansa fit for the future, then we must pay it," Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr told journalists on the sidelines of a conference in Vienna. Lufthansa is grappling with an increased pension deficit against the backdrop of low interest rates. It says it needs to cut costs to halt a loss of market share to low-cost carriers in Europe and more nimble competitors such as Turkish Airlines (THYAO.IS) and Emirates [EMIRA.UL] on long-haul routes.

FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM - Hundreds of Eurostar train passengers trying to travel under the English Channel were stranded in France after migrants climbed on tracks overnight in the port city of Calais, officials said. The problems are the latest in a summer wracked by travel disruptions and diplomatic tensions around Calais, where thousands of migrants are camped in hopes of sneaking through the tunnel or on ferries to Britain. Eurostar told passengers that one France-Britain train had to stop at Calais and return to Paris because of a power failure, after reports of migrants trespassing on the tracks. Eurostar also reported technical difficulties on a London-Paris train, and said at least two other trains suffered disruptions overnight. Trains were resuming normal traffic Wednesday morning. A regional official said migrants were spotted on tracks around the Calais-Frethun train station, prompting security concerns. The official was not authorized to be publicly named. Eurostar operates passenger trains between London and Paris and London and Brussels, which pass through Calais. Eurotunnel, which operates the Channel Tunnel and freight trains that carry trucks and other vehicles under the channel, said the tunnel itself wasn't blocked. Spokeswoman Anne-Laure Descleves said the track trespassing occurred outside the rail network that its trains use and therefore they weren't affected. She said Eurotunnel is in contact with French national rail authority SNCF to try to find a long-term security solution around all tracks in and around Calais.

SPAIN - Train drivers affiliated with the SEMAF union and the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) union are expected to embark upon a countrywide rail sector strike on 4 September. The strike is expected to commence at 00:00 local time and conclude at 23:00. Both freight and passenger trains across Spain are expected to be affected. Additional 24-hour strikes have been called for 11, 14 and 15 September. The forthcoming strike has been called due to failed negotiations between the unions and Renfe, the Spanish state-owned rail company, regarding wage and resources disputes. Further strikes are possible in the short- to medium-term should negotiations between the unions and Renfe continue unsuccessfully. However, any of the proposed strikes may still be cancelled at short notice, as negotiations are ongoing. Should any of the above-mentioned strikes proceed, significant disruptions to rail services should be anticipated. Furthermore, an increased demand for alternative forms of transport should be expected during the strike period. Clients intending to use rail services in Spain on 4 September are advised to contact their travel provider or their respective rail operator to confirm the status of services. Clients are further advised to monitor local media for updates regarding the strike.

UNITED KINGDOM(CARDIFF) - Bus services in the city of Cardiff, located in Wales in the UK, are being significantly impacted by a bus drivers' strike on 2 September. The strike began at 00:01 local time, and will end at 23:59 on 2 September. The strike is being observed by approximately 540 drivers from the Unite union. An associated demonstration is scheduled to take place at Callaghan Square at 12:00 local time; demonstrators will march from there to the vicinity of the Central Library. The strike has been called in protest over wages. Some bus routes will continue to operate as non-unionised drivers, who make up less than 30 percent of Cardiff's drivers are not expected to participate in the strike. Heightened demand for alternative forms of transport are expected for the duration of 2 September. The associated protest action is expected to conclude peacefully. It should be noted that further strike action and associated demonstrations may take place on 5 September. Clients in Cardiff are advised to anticipate disruptions to bus services and increased demand for alternative means of transport, including taxis and vehicle rentals.
AUSTRALIA - We're disappointed to announce that industrial action will be going ahead on the train network on Thursday 3 and Friday 4 September, and customer journeys will be impacted. On Thursday morning, there will be a large number of early morning cancellations, between 4.30am and 7am. There will also be a number of altered services on the network. This is due to a stop work action between 3am and 4am when early morning trains are prepared for service. Normal peak morning services may be impacted as a result. During this time, limited bus services will replace some train services. Detailed information of all service disruptions will be available here shortly, affected Thursday services are listed below. We will also be sending out notifications via metroNotify and Twitter. On Friday, there will be no trains running between 10am and 2pm due to a stop work action however, there will be significant disruption to services on either side of these times, from 8.30am until at least 3.30pm as trains need to return to safe locations (i.e depots, sidings etc) before the stop work action. We are urging our customers to regularly check this page and download the metroNotify app, especially before they travel to keep up to date with service changes. We will do everything in our power to minimise the disruption to our customers. We are committed to continuing to provide the best service and information that we can to our customers. Trams and local buses will operate as normal, and customers may need to seek alternative transport at times when trains aren't running. For alternative travel options, visit ptv.vic.gov.au or yarratrams.com.au

UNITED KINGDOM(BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND) - The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) has called for a demonstration in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in the UK, on 4 September. The demonstration has been organised to protest against the falling prices of dairy products, which has resulted in reduced income for dairy farmers. Participants are expected to gather at the Stormont parliament buildings; the exact timing of the demonstration is unknown.  Protesting farmers have been agitating over falling prices in the agricultural sector in recent weeks. The unrest has resulted in some disruptions; although the events largely have been peaceful. The upcoming demonstration is expected to conclude peacefully; however, the possibility of isolated skirmishes cannot be discounted. Localised disruptions to travel should be anticipated in the vicinity of Stormont.  Clients in Belfast on 4 September are advised to avoid all street protests as a precaution. Itineraries should be kept flexible to accommodate potential delays.

FRANCE(PARIS) - The FNSEA farmers' union are set to hold a go-slow protest in France's capital, Paris, on 3 September. According to local media sources, an estimated 1,000 trucks will converge on the city's A1, A4, A6, A10 and A13 highways at approximately 07:00 local time. The protest caravan will then converge at the Place de la Nation at around 13:00 after encircling Paris' ring road. The go-slow protest has been called as a means of pressuring local authorities to provide greater economic support to the country's agricultural centre. The protest rally is expected to have a significant impact on road travel in Paris on 3 September and may also likely impede local travel to and from the Charles de Gaulle International Airport for the duration of the protest action. Although likely to conclude peacefully, the possibility of violence cannot be entirely discounted. Clients in Paris are advised to ensure that itineraries remain flexible as to accommodate for any travel delays. All related protests and demonstrations should be avoided.

INDIA - Normal life was hit in many states on Wednesday as millions of industrial and blue collar employees struck work in the first nationwide protest since Prime MinisterNarendra Modi took power more than a year ago. Leaders of central trade unions which called the day-long strike claimed "unprecedented success" as banks, insurance companies and state-run as well as private factories shut across the country. Transport unions and traders too joined the protest in many places, leading to the closure of educational institutions and thin attendance in government offices. The strike is in support of 12 demands, including withdrawal of labour law amendments, a minimum wage of Rs.15,000 a month and against privatisation of public sector units. Unions said about 300 million workers were involved in the protest. The strike was largely peaceful except in parts of West Bengal where clashes were reported in Murshidabad, Howrah and North 24 Parganas between Left activists and members of the ruling Trinamool Congress. Financial services were hit hard as lakhs of bank and insurance employees - including those from cooperative banks and regional rural banks - joined the strike, All India Bank Employees Association general secretary C.H. Venkatachalam told IANS in Chennai. He said the strike was a success in major cities like Mumbai, the country's financial capital, as well as New Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata. But unions in State Bank of India and Indian Overseas Bank did not take part. In Mumbai, union leader V. Utagi said: "The strike in the banking and financial services sector is near total. Work at Mumbai Port Trust is hit. And Maharashtra's 1.50 million government employees have joined us." But public buses and Mumbai's suburban trains plied though their unions lent "moral support" to the strike. A section of cabs and auto-rickshaws in Mumbai also joined the strike, which Utagi said was "a major success". In Delhi, banks, insurance companies and industrial areas observed a shutdown. Most auto-rickshaws, the poor man's taxi, went off the roads. But Delhi Metro reported normal operations. The strike hit hard life in Kerala, a Left bastion. Most IT firms in Technopark and Infopark reported very thin attendance. Work at the Cochin Port was affected. The shutdown evoked mixed response in Karnataka. Buses and autos didn't ply while factories, banks and shops were closed. Thousands of commuters were stranded in cities and towns across the state. The strike hit transport and banking services in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh too. Buses of state-owned road transport corporations in both states went off the roads as did auto-rickshaws in Hyderabad and other towns. Truck owners and drivers also joined the strike in some places. Petrol bunks were shut in a few places. In Bhopal, all state-run public buses remained off the roads. Shops and banks too were shut. The strike was particularly effective in major cities like Indore, Jabalpur and Ujjain. Normal life was hit in Bihar as thousands of workers in the government and private sector joined the strike. In some places, strike supporters blocked roads and halted train services. The strike was total in Left-ruled Tripura. All offices, shops, markets, banks and educational institutions were shut while vehicular traffic went off the roads. In Kolkata, while educational institutions and commercial establishments were largely closed, buses and the metro operated normally. But there were fewer commuters. Train services on the Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway were hit as strike supporters blocked the tracks in several areas. The strike had the least effect in Tamil Nadu although life was hit in industrial areas besides banks and insurance companies. The impact of the shutdown in Himachal Pradesh was seen in Shimla, Rampur, Theog, Solan, Mandi, Nahan, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Dharamsala, Palampur, Kangra, Kullu and Manali towns as bus operators joined the protest. In Goa, markets and public transport were hit hard, union leaders said. Police arrested about 200 workers who had blocked National Highway 17 near the Verna Industrial estate, 25 km from Panaji.

BANGLADESH(DHAKA) - Heavy rain and associated flooding has impacted travel in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, on 2 September, following similar disruptions experienced on 1 September. The Kakrail, Shanitanagar, Mouchak, Malibagh, Rampura, Badda, Moghbazar, Mirpur, Dhanmondi and Karwan Bazar areas have been worst-affected, with reports of severe disruptions to road-based travel; however, many primary and secondary roads throughout the city have become waterlogged, causing additional disruptions. There have been no reports of disruptions to flights at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Bangladesh is affected by the annual south west monsoon season, which generally runs from June to September. Given this dynamic, further heavy rain is likely in the coming near-term, which is likely to exacerbate the situation. As such, further disruptions to travel and business operations are likely. Clients currently in Dhaka are advised to monitor weather developments, and should heed any advisories issued by local authorities. Furthermore, clients are advised to exercise caution in low-lying areas, flood-prone areas.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO(NORTH KIVU) - (Update) According to reports released on 2 September, eight Tanzanian nationals kidnapped by suspected Hutu extremist Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) militants in Katwiguru, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)'s eastern province of North Kivu, on 2 August have escaped. Although details regarding the escape remain unconfirmed at this time, it is believed that the victims managed to flee amid clashes between Congolese armed forces and the FDLR. The victims, a group of Muslim imams, were travelling between Rutshuru and Katwiguru when they were seized. The incident underlines the extreme-risk travel and operating environment in the DRC's North Kivu region, which is host to a number of disparate rebel forces. These armed groups regularly engage in acts of kidnapping, banditry and other acts of criminality. The FDLR is the most prominent militant group in the region to use kidnapping as a tactic and has conducted many kidnappings in the past. In April, as many as 40 people were kidnapped in the Rutshuru area of North Kivu while travelling between Kibirizi and the provincial capital, Goma. Given the chronically high levels of insecurity in North Kivu, further incidents of this nature cannot be discounted. Due to various security concerns, particularly those relating to conflict and rebel activity, clients are advised against all travel to North Kivu. Persons currently in or intending to travel to the region are advised to register their presence with their respective diplomatic representations, restrict movements to major urban centres, and ensure that robust travel, residential and personal security measures are in place at all times.

IRAQ(BAGHDAD) - The Iraq authorities have stated that 20 labourers were abducted by unidentified assailants in the capital, Baghdad, on 2 September. The victims were kidnapped at a construction site in the east of the city. The exact location of the incident is unclear. Sources indicate that it occurred either in Sadr City or the nearby Habibiya area. Turkish nationals are among the group of abducted persons. Local sources indicated that as many as 17 of the victims were Turkish. Further details regarding the identity of the abductors or possible motive for the incident are unavailable. The incident is unusual for Baghdad. While the kidnapping risk is elevated and incidents do occur, these typically involve individuals or small groups of people. The incident also occurred in a largely Shiite Muslim area of the city where pro-government militia presence is widespread. It is possible that Shiite armed groups were involved in the abduction. The potential motive for the incident is unknown but if militia involvement is confirmed the incident could be politically motivated or linked to sectarian tensions. Clients are advised against all travel to Baghdad governorate. Persons operating in the governorate and the capital are advised to travel with a close protection officer, reside in a secure compound and maintain a generally low public profile.

PARAGUAY(SAN PEDRO DEPARTMENT) - The authorities in Paraguay have stated that the Ejercito del Pueblo Paraguayo (EPP) armed group was responsible for a bomb attack targeting an electricity pylon in San Pedro department's Tacuati district on 30 August. The attack led to the disruption of power to approximately 750,000 residents. The incident follows the 8 August abduction of a Mennonite settler, Abraham Fehr, two of his children and two local labourers in the Tacuati area by suspected EPP fighters. Some of the victims were later released; however, some remain in captivity. Media accounts differ on which victims are still being held. The kidnappers also reportedly initially demanded a ransom of US$20,000; the amount was raised and delivered but not collected. Media reports now indicate that the ransom demand has increased to US$500,000. The EPP has been operating for a number of years in Paraguay's Concepcion, San Pedro and Canindeyu departments. It is agitating for socialist land reform. The group has been responsible for several security incidents targeting the police and military and local landowners/farmers in recent years. Incidents have previously included kidnappings for ransom. In addition to the EPP, another associated group, which is thought to have broken away from the EPP, the Asociacion Campesina Armada (ACA), also operates in the same areas and is involved in similar armed activity. Persons operating in areas affected by EPP activity are advised to exercise a heightened level of personal security awareness, particularly if travelling in the vicinity of common EPP targets. Foreign nationals should also maintain a generally low profile and limit travel to main roads and during the day only.

YEMEN(AMRAN GOVERNORATE) - Unidentified gunmen killed two aid workers in Amran governorate, northern Yemen, on 2 September. The aid workers, employed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), were travelling in an ICRC-marked vehicle between Saada and the capital, Sanaa, when they and another ICRC vehicle transporting two other ICRC employees, were stopped. The gunmen then opened fire and killed the two aid workers. The motive for the attack is unknown. The incident underscores the elevated security risks in Yemen. The state is fractured, its authority is undermined by the presence of numerous non-state armed groups and it is unable to project power out of main urban centres. The personal security risk is particularly acute in rural areas and when travelling by road between cities and towns.  Clients are advised against all travel to Yemen, excluding the Socotra archipelago. Persons operating in the country should do so following a full risk assessment from their security provider. Crisis management plans should be regularly reviewed and updated. Clients should travel with a close protection officer. Intercity travel should be conducted by air rather than road.

NEPAL(PARSA & BARA DISTRICTS, OUTER TERAI REGION) - At least five protesters were killed in clashes with security forces in the Parsa and Bara districts of Nepal's Outer Terai region on 1 September. According to reports, police fatally shot members of the Madhesi ethnic group during separate demonstrations against the promulgation of a draft constitution. The protesters had reportedly thrown projectiles and petrol bombs at security forces during the aforementioned protests. Tensions remain heightened in the region following the unrest and subsequent fatalities. Several strike actions and associated protests have been organised in Nepal over issues relating to a draft constitution, which makes provision for the country to be divided up into seven provinces. Minority ethnic groupings such as the Madhesi and Tharu claim that this arrangement does little to ensure they are adequately represented. The Madhesi and Tharu are demanding greater autonomy under the new constitution. Earlier protests in the Kailali district on 24 August resulted in the deaths of eight police officers and three protesters. Given the contentious nature of the new constitution, further agitation by members of the Madhesi and Tharu groups is possible in the short- to medium-term. Such unrest may pose an incidental risk to bystanders, given the propensity for violence at these events. Clients in Nepal, particularly those in the Terai region, are advised to monitor local developments closely for information on possible further strikes. All demonstrations and concentrations of security forces should be avoided as a standard precaution.

SYRIA(LATAKIA) - A car bomb detonated in Latakia city's Hamam Square earlier on 2 September. The blast killed seven people and wounded 40 others. Latakia city has been largely unaffected by recent conflict and associated violence; however, rebels have made increasing gains into northern and north eastern parts of Latakia governorate in recent weeks and are threatening core regime territory along the country's north eastern coastline. Rebels are, therefore, the likely perpetrators of the 2 September attack. Further bombings are anticipated coinciding with fighting in Latakia governorate. Clients are advised against all travel to Syria, including Latakia. Persons operating in Syria should adopt stringent personal, travel and residential security measures.

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