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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 - Southwest Airlines says it's fixed the technology problems that delayed hundreds of flights Sunday and that it expects a normal day of operations on Monday. But long lines remained at some airports early in the day. Before issuing a statement, the Dallas-based company had been warning passengers flying Monday to arrive at the airport two hours early and print boarding passes beforehand. When asked by the Associated Press early in the day whether fliers should continue with those precautions, an airline spokesman said customers should expect a normal day Monday. Southwest used backup systems around the country on Sunday to check-in travelers lacking printed or mobile boarding passes.

UNITED STATES / GERMANY & ITALY - Delta will launch new routes from Detroit to Munich and from Minneapolis to Rome next summer. The US carrier will operate a B767-400ER aircraft on the six-times weekly Detroit-Munich service and a B767-300ER on the daily Minneapolis-Rome route. Both services commence on May 26. On every day apart from Saturdays, outbound flight DL022 will depart Detroit at 2150 and land in Munich at 1230 the next day. On each day except Sundays, return leg DL023 will leave Munich at 1415 and land in Detroit at 1807. Outbound service DL090 will depart Minneapolis daily at 1725 and land at Rome Fiumicino at 1020 the following day. Return flight DL091 will leave Rome at 1205 and arrive in Minneapolis at 1600.

ISRAEL - (Update) Three separate stabbing incidents have been reported in Jerusalem on 12 October. In the first incident, a Palestinian attempted to stab a police officer at Lions' Gate in the Old City. The assailant was shot and killed. The second incident occurred near the Ammunition Hill light rail stop, where an assailant tried to stab an official. The second assailant was also shot and killed. A third incident has been reported on a bus along Road 16 in Pisgat Zeev. The assailant reportedly stabbed two Jewish boys, wounding them. Low-level knife attacks have been reported with increasing regularity across the West Bank, Jerusalem and in parts of Israel in recent days. The violence has coincided with an increasing frequency of anti-Israel civil unrest in Palestinian communities in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The knife attacks have targeted Israeli security officials and Jewish persons. The majority of incidents have been perpetrated by Palestinians. At least one attack, in Dimona on 9 October, was perpetrated by a Jewish person against Arab Palestinians. Further violence is anticipated. Clients should note that the killing of assailants can trigger further protests in their home communities or in the East Jerusalem area. Clients in Jerusalem should exercise a heightened level of personal security awareness. All street protests and concentrations of security force personnel should be avoided.
 
ISRAEL - Jewish settlers from the West Bank have called for a demonstration outside of the Jerusalem residence of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 13 October. The rally will be held in Paris Square. The settlers have called for the rally to demand enhanced security and the construction of more settlement communities in the West Bank. The protest coincides with increasing Palestinian-Israeli tensions and associated violence and civil unrest across the West Bank and in East Jerusalem in recent days. Violence has taken the form of disruptive protests and stabbing attacks. Stabbing and vehicular attacks have also been reported elsewhere in Israel. On 9 October, an Israeli national stabbed and wounded four people in two separate incidents in Dimona, southern Israel. On 11 October, three Jewish Israelis assaulted a Palestinian along Jaffa Street in western Jerusalem. Tensions along the Gaza Strip Israel border have also escalated sharply. At least 11 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since 9 October by Israeli air strikes or ground firing against Palestinian protesters near the shared border. Gaza militants have responded to the unrest and violence by conducting a number of rocket attacks against southern Israeli communities. The violent and disruptive protests, politically motivated attacks and cross-border conflict between Israel and the Gaza Strip violence is expected to persist. Clients are advised against all travel to the Gaza Strip, against all travel to within 2km of the shared Israeli Gaza Strip border in Israel and against all non-essential travel to within 45km outside of this 2km area in Israel. Clients are further advised against all non-essential travel to the West Bank. Persons in Israel and the West Bank should exercise a heightened level of personal security awareness, should avoid all protests and large public gatherings, exercise caution in protest areas or hotspots, including religious sites, Palestinian communities and Jewish settlements, and consider additional security services if travelling in the Gaza Strip.

POLAND - Unionised teachers in Poland are expected to conduct a strike in the capital, Warsaw, on 14 October. A related demonstration is expected to be held as part of the strike. Participants are scheduled to gather in front of the prime minister's office at 13:00 local time. The action has been called to bring attention to several long-standing grievances held by teachers in the country, including issues regarding salary increases and poor government investment in the sector. The demonstration is expected to be well attended; as such, localised disruptions should be anticipated in the vicinity of the protest site. While the demonstration is expected to conclude peacefully, the possibility of the low-level confrontations occurring cannot be discounted. Clients in Warsaw on 14 October are advised to avoid all street protests as a precaution, and to adjust itineraries to accommodate any potential delays.
 
ESTONIA - Various civil society movements have called for an anti-immigration demonstration in the Estonia's capital, Tallinn, on 14 October. Protesters are also denouncing European resettlement quotas for refugees. Participants will gather at the German Embassy on Toom-Kuninga Street at 11:00 local time, and proceed to the Estonian Parliament building, Toompea Castle. The ongoing European migrant crisis has prompted numerous anti-immigration and solidarity protests in European countries in recent weeks. While these have generally been well attended, it is unclear how well observed the upcoming demonstration will be. Nonetheless, localised travel disruptions should be anticipated along the protest route. The march is expected to conclude peacefully; however, possibility of low-level confrontations occurring cannot be discounted. Clients in Tallinn on 14 October are advised to avoid all street protests as precaution and to keep itineraries flexible to accommodate potential delays.

ARGENTINA - Teachers affiliated to the UDOCBA union are set to undertake industrial action in Argentina's Buenos Aires province province on 15 and 16 October. An associated protest will be held in the provincial capital, La Plata, on 14 October. Participants are expected to gather at the provincial Government House in the city. Related protests are also possible elsewhere in the province during the strike period. The industrial action has been organised over salary disputes and other labour-related issues. In addition to the disruption in education sector activities, the planned protests in La Plata and any possible associated protests are likely to result in localised road travel disruptions. The risk of violence at strike-related protests is considered low; however, confrontations between demonstrators and the police remain possible. Clients in La Plata during the above-mentioned times are advised to avoid all street protests as a standard precaution. Itineraries should be kept flexible to accommodate potential localised

URUGUAY -Various organisations, including the PIT-CNT union and other student groups have called for a demonstration in Uruguay's capital, Montevideo, on 14 October at 17:00 local time. The protest has been organised over issues relating to the National Budget and the education sector. A separate rally organised by the MSCE trade union will be held in the vicinity of the Wage Council buildings on the day as well. The demonstration is expected to be well attended; as such, localised disruptions are anticipated along the protest route on the day. The risk of violence at the upcoming protest is low; however, the possibility cannot be fully discounted. Persons in Montevideo on 14 October are advised to make allowances for potential localised travel disruptions and avoid all large street gatherings as a standard precaution.   

MONTENEGRO - Activist groups have called for an anti-NATO demonstration in Montenegro's capital, Podgorica, on 14 October. The demonstration will coincide with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's visit to the country. Further details regarding the demonstration are unknown, although participants are likely to gather at government buildings in the capital. It is not unclear how well attended the upcoming rally will be; nonetheless, localised disruptions should be anticipated at protest sites in the city. While the demonstration is expected to conclude peacefully, the possibility of low-level confrontations cannot be discounted.Clients in Podgorica on 14 October are advised to avoid all street protests as a precaution, and to adjust itineraries to accommodate potential localised disruptions.

INDIA - A general strike (known locally as a bandh), is currently underway in India's northern state of Jammu and Kashmir, on 12 October. The strike was called by the Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led faction of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) political organisation, as well as leaders of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation front (JKLF) and the Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA). It is being held to protest the alleged assault of two Kashmiri truck drivers, in what is believed to be a communal incident, in the Udhampur district on 9 October. Thus far, there have been no confirmed reports of violence associated with the strike, although further details relating to this are currently unavailable. Disruptions to business and travel should be expected for the remainder of 12 October due to the strike. Furthermore, the possibility that protests, should they occur, 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. Due to a number of ongoing security concerns, all non-essential travel to Jammu and Kashmir state (except the eastern Ladakh region) is advised against. Clients in the state on 12 October should avoid all protests, public gatherings and concentrations of security forces as a precaution. 

CHINA - Security force presence remains elevated in the Chunwan municipality of Yangchun, in China's south eastern province, Guangdong, on 12 October. This follows clashes between police and residents in the municipality in recent days. The clashes occurred on 9 and 10 October when police attempted to forcibly disperse thousands of protesters outside the Hailuo Cement Plant. There have been reports of injuries among both demonstrators and security force personnel, although the exact numbers are unknown. Police detained at least 10 people. Further information is unavailable.The protests were held after villagers were informed that a garbage incinerator had been illegally built and was operating without a licence at the cement factory. Despite Chinese authorities regarding stability and security as a high priority, protests driven by environmental and associated health concerns are becoming increasingly common throughout China. The propensity of Chinese security forces to deal with all dissent using heavy-handed tactics means the possibility of further violence cannot be ruled out. Clients in Yangchun are advised to avoid the Hailuo Cement Plant area over the near-term, and to anticipate resultant localised travel disruptions. All protest action should be avoided as a precaution against violent civil unrest.   

THAILAND - Thailand's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has stated that flash flooding and landslide are expected across large parts of the country until 15 October. Areas expected to be worst impacted are the northern, north eastern, eastern and southern parts of the country. Rough seas, possibly leading to maritime transport disruptions, have also been forecast until 15 October, in the waters off the provinces of Ranong, Phang Nga and Phuket. In addition, Thailand's Meteorological Department has issued a cautionary advisory for heavy rain and associated flash flooding in central, eastern and southern areas of the country until 14 October. Indeed, heavy rain and localised disruptions have already been reported in the Chalong area of the island province of Phuket on 12 October. The risk of flooding and landslides in the coming days in the above mentioned areas is higher than normal. Thailand is emerging from its rainy season and the ground remains heavily saturated. In addition, transport disruptions should also be anticipated over the near-term in response to the anticipated inclement weather. Clients in Thailand, irrespective of area of travel, are advised to monitor local media for further updates and advisories. Caution is advised in low-lying and elevated regions due to the respective risks of flooding and landslides.

IRAQ - (Update) The opposition party, Gorran, has alleged that a number of its senior members have been asked to leave Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) capital, Arbil, by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). The KDP allege that Gorran are fermenting civil unrest in the southern KRG governorates, Sulaymaniyah and Halabja. Unconfirmed reports indicate that at least one senior KDP official has asked Gorran to leave the KRG government. The KRG speaker of Parliament and Gorran member, Yusuf Muhammed, was reportedly barred from entering Arbil city on 12 October by pro-KDP security forces. Gorran, which emerged in 2009, is the second largest party in the Kurdistan Parliament with 24 seats. The KDP is the leading party with 38 seats. The KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which has 18 seats, are the two traditional primary Kurdish parties and currently rule the KRG in coalition. The blocking of Gorran's senior members from the capital is likely to exacerbate existing political tension, and may serve to increase the frequency of protests. Protests in southern KRG started in early October by state workers demanding back pay. These have escalated in recent days in calls for KRG president and KDP leader, Massoud Barzani, whose mandate ended in August, to stand aside. Talks between the major political parties to end the stand-off have largely failed. Protests have centred on the Sulaymaniyah and Halabja governorates; however, should Gorran be barred from Arbil for a longer period, the party and its supporters may initiate protests across the KRG. The risk of violence is elevated at all protest sites. Clients are advised against all non-essential travel to the KRG-controlled regions of Dahuk, Arbil and Sulaymaniyah, including Halabja, due to ongoing conflict in the region and the threat of terrorism. Persons operating in the KRG are advised to avoid all street protests and political party
 
IRAQ - : (Update) Violent and disruptive civil unrest was reported across the Sulaymaniyah and Halabja governorates in the southern Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), in Iraq, on 9, 10 and 11 October. The violence coincided with an ongoing strike by state workers over unpaid salaries and calls by opposition groups for current KRG President Massoud Barzani, whose term expired in August, to step down. Protests, both violent and peaceful, and attacks on offices of Brazani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) have been reported in Sulaymaniyah city, Qalat Dizah, Rania, Kalar, Tawella, Biara, Khurmal, Sirwan, Zharawa, Hajiawa, Sangasar and Said Sadiq. Violence has left a number of people dead and/or wounded. The KDP has meanwhile accused Gorran, one of the major opposition groupings, of fermenting the unrest. Talks between the KDP and the other primary KRG parties are reportedly ongoing at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Sulaymaniyah city. Protests have not, as yet, spread to Dahuk or Arbil; however, security remains elevated in these areas, particularly around political party offices. The civil unrest is some of the most severe experienced in the KRG for a number of years. It is expected to persist over the near-term in Sulaymaniyah and Halabja governorates as long as state worker salaries go unpaid and Barzani remains in power, or a political agreement between the major parties is not reached. Sulaymaniyah city, particularly Sarra Square and the vicinity of the Grand Millennium Hotel, will remain the focal point of protests. Further attacks on KDP offices are also likely. The unrest is likely to continue to centre on Sulaymaniyah and Halabja as Barzani remains widely popular in Dahuk and Arbil; however, counter-protests by KDP supporters or attacks on non-KDP party interests elsewhere in the KRG cannot be discounted. Clients are advised against all non-essential travel to the KRG-controlled regions of Dahuk, Arbil and Sulaymaniyah, including Halabja, due to ongoing conflict in the wider region and the general threat of terrorism. Persons operating in the KRG are advised to avoid all street protests and political party offices.
 

 
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