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

UKRAINE/RUSSIA - A ban on direct services between Ukraine and Russia has come into effect. The suspension of flights is part of sanctions imposed on Russia for its support of separatists in the east. Travelers between the two nations will now have to fly through another country, take the overnight train or drive. It is predicted around 70,000 passengers a month will be hit by the ban. The sanctions are intended to punish Russia for annexing Crimea and supporting armed rebels in eastern Ukraine despite a ceasefire on the ground. According to Reuters around 8,000 people have been killed since fighting started in eastern Ukraine in April 2014.

Our records indicate your company does not have any travelers scheduled to fly from Ukraine to Russia from October 27 to December 31, 2015 who were ticketed by ATG.

AFRICA(KENYA AIRWAYS) - Kenya Airways will resume flights to Bangui, the national capital of Central African Republic by November 2015. Kenya Airways suspended operations in March 2013, following a civil unrest in the country. The security situation has since improved. Operations will start with 2 frequencies per week, directly from Nairobi and from Bangui onwards to Douala in Cameroon. Flights are operated in a Boeing 737-800. Mbuvi Ngunze, CEO of Kenya Airways: "We are pleased to announce our return to the Central African Republic, linking the capital of Bangui to the world through our extensive network in Nairobi. Passengers will also benefit from our new flights between Bangui and Doula. We will be watching the market closely with a view to add frequencies in the near future."

BRAZIL(AZUL BRAZILIAN AIRLINES)- Azul Brazilian Airlines' first international codesharing partnership has begun.Azul has put its code on United Airlines flights between Brazil and each of eight U.S. destinations, and United has put its code on Azul flights between São Paulo and each of six Brazilian destinations. United announced a partnership with Azul in June that includes codesharing, loyalty-program reciprocation and United's $100 million acquisition of a 5 percent stake in Azul.

UNITED KINGDOM(OXFORD PARKWAY & LONDON MARYLEBONE) - A £320 million rail link between Oxford Parkway and London Marylebone has opened. The joint deal between Chiltern Railways and Network Rail is the train line to link a major city to London in 100 years. The rail link will serve new stations at Oxford and Biecester Village. The direct line from London Marylebone to Oxford will have a journey time of less than one hour, with a link to central Oxford complete in 2016. It's expected to attract an additional 250,000 return journeys a year. "This is a rare example of new direct competition on Britain's railways", Chiltern Railways said in a statement. The new service will offer two new fast trains per hour throughout the day between Oxford Parkway, Bicester Village Station and London. Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne said the new line would help to boost capacity "as rail travel is forecast to double over the next two decades".

SPAIN - Countrywide disruptions to rail services are expected in Spain on 29 and 30 October. Unionised rail workers are expected to observe a series of work stoppages from 09:30 to 12:30 and 22:00 to 23:59 local time on 29 October, with the last stoppage between 00:00 and 03:00 on 30 October. The action has been called to protest the ongoing wage dispute with rail operators Renfe and Adif, as well as the privatisation of rail services, which may cause a number of redundancies. Disruptions to rail services and an increased demand for alternative modes of transport should be anticipated during the aforementioned period. Due to ongoing grievances between the trade unions and rail operators, further strike action is anticipated. It should be noted that the associated actions may be extended or suspended on an ad hoc basis. Persons intending to use rail services in Spain on 29 and 30 October are advised to contact their travel provider or the relevant rail operator to confirm the status of services. Clients are further advised to monitor local media for updates regarding the strike.

GREECE(ATHENS) - (Update) Travel disruptions are expected in Greece's capital, Athens, due to Ochi Day commemorative events on 28 October. High school parades and related commemorative events will be held in the city, with the main parade expected to proceed from Syntagma Square (near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) to Athens University from 11:00 local time. A number of road cordons have been in place since 07:00, affecting Amalias and Vassilissis Sofias avenues and Panepistimiou Street. Cordons are expected to be in place for the duration of the parade. Ochi Day commemorates Greece's entry into the Second World War in 1940, and is often celebrated with military processions and student parades. Although protests and demonstrations are not anticipated, the possibility of anti-government protest gatherings targeting official events cannot be dismissed. Localised travel disruptions are anticipated in the vicinity of the parade route and near associated events. Persons in Athens are advised to avoid associated commemorative events and localised traffic restrictions, and should plan accordingly.

INDIA(JAIPUR) - A strike by bus drivers and conductors in Jaipur, in India's Rajasthan state, is underway on 28 October, resulting in severe disruptions to intra-city bus services. The strike has impacted approximately 3,500 busses in the city. The current action has been initiated by the Minibus Operators Union amid claims of extortion and harassment by the Regional Transport Office (RTO), a government body responsible for registration of vehicles and issuing of licences in India. In addition to transport disruptions, the strike is likely to lead to an increased demand for other forms of transport. Also, protest-related gatherings may accompany the strike action. In addition, the possibility that striking workers may block major roads and highways in an effort to draw attention to their cause cannot be discounted. Should protests take place, there is a likely threat of clashes between police and protesters. Clients in Jaipur for the remainder of 28 October should make allowances for travel disruptions, and avoid any street protests as a precaution.

PERU(LIMA) - A transport sector strike is expected to affect Peru's capital, Lima, on 29 October. Taxi operations are expected to be particularly affected by the industrial action. The strike has been organised to call for greater transport sector reforms, including the extension of operational permits and licences by the local government for an additional 10 years. Disruptions to bus and taxi services should be anticipated for the duration of the strike. In addition to transport disruptions, the strike is likely to lead to an increased demand for other forms of transport. Also, protest-related gatherings may accompany the strike action. Any associated protest action is likely to be well attended and could be both disruptive and characterised by low-level violence. Persons in Lima during the aforementioned strike period are advised to avoid all large street protests and concentrations of security forces. Travel disruptions are also anticipated. Clients are advised to monitor local media for updates and related developments.

TAIWAN(YUNLIN COUNTY) - A Hong Kong national has been released in a security operation on 27 October following his kidnapping in Taiwan on 22 September. The victim was found in a village in central Yunlin County after being kidnapped from a residential area in the capital, Taipei. He showed signs of having been assaulted during his captivity. His kidnappers had reportedly sent a ransom demand of 9 million US dollars to Pearl Oriental Limited, the Hong Kong-based company of which he was the chairman. Although it is unclear if this was paid before he was rescued. It has been reported that 12 people, all thought to be Taiwanese nationals involved in an organised crime syndicate, were arrested in the security operation. Although the general kidnapping threat to foreign nationals in Taiwan is low, it is elevated for Chinese and Hong Kong nationals, especially those with a longer-term presence in the country, as was the case in the most recent incident. In addition, the victim was a relatively high-profile individual with a high-net-worth, therefore making him an attractive target for criminals. Despite the generally low kidnapping threat, foreign nationals in Taiwan are nonetheless advised to adopt basic security precautions and be aware of the possibility of being surveilled.

NIGERIA(BORNO STATE) - Military forces have rescued 338 captives from Nigeria's Borno State on 28 October. Those rescued from the Boko Haram stronghold in the vicinity of the Sambisa forest included eight men, 138 women and 192 children. Military forces from the Task Force Brigade conducted a raid on the sect's Bulajilin and Manawashe camps along Bitta and Damboa roads and killed 30 militants during the operation. Weapons, money and ammunition were also seized. The raid was in response to a tip off that officials received after ambushing and killing four Boko Haram militants en route to executing a suspected suicide mission in Gubula, in the Madagali local government area of Adamawa state. The raid forms part of ongoing counterterrorism operations by the Nigerian military and its regional partners. Boko Haram continues to maintain a strong operational presence across the country, including in Borno State. Although the recent raid may degrade the group's capabilities, further militant attacks are expected to persist; these may take the form of armed raids, bombings and kidnappings, targeting both state and civilian interests. Clients are advised against non-essential travel to most of Nigeria due to various security concerns. Furthermore, clients are advised against all travel to the northern states of Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau and Yobe due to the Boko Haram insurgency, in addition to regular outbreaks of communal violence and associated insecurity.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC(BANGUI) - At least six people were killed in sectarian violence in the Central African Republic (CAR)'s capital, Bangui, on 27 October. The violence was prompted by the abduction of three members of the Union for Peace in Central African Republic (UPC) early on 27 October. The members are said to have been attending peace talks when their vehicle was attacked in a rival anti-Balaka militia area near the Bangui M'Poko International Airport. Reports indicate that a fourth member managed to escape the attack wounded, while the other three are believed to have been killed. In what has been deemed an act of revenge, three Christians were abducted and killed in a Seleka area. The CAR has been subject to an increasing number of ethno-religious incidents of violence following the overthrow of former president, Francois Bozize, in 2013. Clashes in the CAR typically occur between individuals and groups affiliated with the Seleka rebels, Christian anti-Balaka militia, or Fula tribesmen, a Muslim ethnic group. Tensions between Muslim and Christian communities remain high despite efforts to contain the protracted sectarian violence in the country. As the security situation in the country is not expected to improve in the near-term, further such incidents are likely. Clients are advised against all travel to the CAR due to political instability and associated insecurity.

BURUNDI - Clashes between armed insurgents and police forces were reported in various parts of Burundi on 26 and 27 October. Three assailants and one police officer were killed during clashes in the capital, Bujumbura, late on 26 October. Gunfire and grenade explosions were heard in the Mutakura and Ngagara areas of the city, wounding a further 15 civilians. A separate incident was reported in Nyabihanga, where a group of at least 50 unknown gunmen attacked the town, resulting in the death of three assailants on 27 October. The group managed to elude police forces and headed to Nyarusange, killing one police officer before moving to Ryansoro, where clashes are ongoing. The motive behind the attacks is unclear; however, they are suspected to be politically motivated. Burundi's security environment remains unstable due to incumbent president Pierre Nkurunziza's controversial decision to contest the Burundian presidency for a third successive term; this sparked violent anti-government protests since April 2015. Nkurunziza's victory in the 24 July presidential ballot was deemed illegitimate by opposition forces, who violently contested the outcome. The latest incidents are likely related to ongoing political polarisation within the country. Although the situation has stabilised to some extent, as this latest incident demonstrates, significant tensions remain; as such, further unrest and politically motivated violence are possible in the near-term. Clients are advised against all non-essential travel to Burundi, including the aforementioned areas. Furthermore, clients are advised against all travel to the western Cibitoke and Bubanza provinces, which border the Democratic Republic of Congo, due to ongoing rebel activity in these regions.

LIBYA(AREA WEST OF JANZOUR) - A military helicopter crashed west of Libya's capital, Tripoli, on 27 October. The crash left at least 15 people dead, including a number of senior military officials of one of Libya's two rival governments, the Tripoli-based General National Congress (GNC). The helicopter was reportedly shot down. The identity of the attackers is not clear. Following the incident clashes were reported between GNC-linked Libya Dawn forces and Warshefana militia forces. The Warshefana, based immediately west of Tripoli, are allied to the Libyan National Army (LNA), which is loyal to the other Libyan government, the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR). The incident has the potential to undermine ongoing UN-sponsored peace talks between the HoR, GNC and a number of other Libyan groupings. Low-level clashes may persist and could escalate in the Warshefana area over the near-term if a compromise is not found. In addition, travel disruptions, including road closures, remain a possibility in areas west of Tripoli over the near-term in response to any potential or actual conflict. Clients are advised against all travel to Libya. Persons in the country should travel with a security escort and ensure that crisis management plans are regularly reviewed and updated. Clients in Tripoli should avoid overland travel west of Tripoli over the near-term.

SWEDEN(UPPSALA) - Activist groups are set to stage a demonstration in Uppsala, Sweden, on 28 October. Activists have called for the demonstration in solidarity with asylum seekers entering the country. The protest has also been called against a number of acts of vandalism targeting proposed refugee centres. Participants are expected to gather at an unspecified location near Castle Hill from 18:00 local time. Associated protests are expected in Gothenburg, Malmo and Stockholm; further details are unavailable. However, these demonstrations are expected to be met by counter-demonstrations. Although the upcoming protest is expected to conclude peacefully, the possibility of isolated skirmishes cannot be discounted. The demonstration is expected to be well attended; as such, localised road travel disruptions should be anticipated in and around the demonstration site. Persons in Sweden on 28 October advised to monitor local media for updates regarding the upcoming demonstration. In addition, clients are advised to avoid all large street gatherings and concentration of security forces as a precaution. Clients should anticipate localised travel disruptions in the vicinity of affected sites.

UKRAINE(ODESSA) - Incumbent governor of Ukraine's Odessa Oblast, Mikheil Saakashvili from the Petro Poroshenko Bloc, has called for a demonstration in the eponymous regional capital on 28 October. The demonstration has been called to protest preliminary local election results. Saakashvili alleges that the elections have been subject to a number or irregularities, including fraud and miscounting of ballot papers. Participants are expected to gather along an unspecified location on Trinity Street from 18:00 local time. An associated demonstration is expected outside the Odessa County Administrative Court on Fontanskaya Road from 16:00. While the demonstrations are expected to conclude without any major incident, the possibility of incidents of violent unrest cannot be discounted. It should be noted the competitiveness of the current ballot could increase the potential for acts of politically motivated violence during and amid the release of the election results. Localised travel disruptions are anticipated at demonstration sites. Persons in Odessa are advised to avoid all street protests, election-related facilities, political party offices as well as state buildings and personnel as a general precaution. Clients are further advised to monitor media and related developments closely.

NICARAGUA(MANAGUA) - Unsanctioned protests against the government-proposed canal project have been ongoing in recent days in Nicaragua's capital, Managua. Associated protests are set to continue until 29 October. Unrest was reported at an associated protest march which took place on 27 October on Carreta Norte Road; participants reportedly clashed with police while marching to the National Assembly. Reports indicated that at least five people were injured as a result. Additionally, roadblocks have been reported in the city and are expected to remain in place for the near-term as a precaution against further unrest. Further information regarding the upcoming protests remains unavailable. Civil society groups as well as agricultural sector workers have been opposing the Grand Canal project, which would require extensive land appropriation and would be the largest infrastructural project undertaken in the country. Municipalities located in the proposed canal path would need to be appropriated by the government; the project is due to completed by 2020. Protests relating to the proposed canal project are likely to continue over the near-term, particularly in light of the recent unrest. The threat of violence at all unsanctioned gatherings is considered elevated and police may forcibly disperse further protests. An increased security presence is expected to be deployed to the affected area over the near-term. Further clashes and possible protest roadblocks in Managua should be anticipated. Persons in Managua in the coming days are advised to avoid all street gatherings and concentrations of security forces as a precaution. Itineraries should be kept flexible to accommodate any localised travel delays.

LEBANON(BEIRUT) - The 'You Stink' movement has called for strike action and an associated protest march in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, on 28 and 29 October, respectively. The actions have been called with regard to the ongoing discontent regarding the government's handling of the waste crisis in the city. On 29 October, protesters will march from the National Museum (located on Museum Street) to an undisclosed area in the Ain el-Mreissah area, where a demonstration will be held. Further details are currently unavailable. The upcoming strike and march are the latest in response to an ongoing waste management crisis. Activist groups, including 'You Stink', have staged regular demonstrations in the capital and elsewhere. These have become increasingly anti-government in sentiment; related events have been well supported and have been characterised by low-level incidents of unrest, including clashes between participants and security forces, as well as travel disruptions due to roadblocks erected by protesters. As such, the possibility of violence occurring at the upcoming strike and march cannot be discounted. Localised travel disruptions are anticipated at and around related gatherings. Clients are advised against all non-essential travel to most of Lebanon, including Beirut. Persons in the city are advised to exercise a heightened level of personal security awareness. All street protests and concentrations of security forces should be avoided as a precaution.

PANAMA(PANAMA CITY) - Activist group, FRENADESO, is set to hold a demonstration in Panama's capital, Panama City, on 29 October. The demonstration has been called to protest a number of socio-economic concerns, including unemployment. Participants are expected to gather at Parque Porras from 16:00 local time. Although the demonstration is expected to conclude peacefully, the possibility of isolated skirmishes cannot be discounted. Localised travel disruptions are expected in and around the demonstration venue. Persons in Panama City on 29 October are advised to avoid all street protests as a precaution and monitor local media for updates regarding the upcoming demonstration. Clients are further advised to anticipate delays and disruptions in the affected area.

POLAND(WARKA) - An anti-immigration protest is expected to take place in Warka, Poland, on 30 October. The Participants are expected to gather at an unspecified location near the Warka Market from 18:00 local time. Counter-demonstrations are possible in the vicinity of the anti-immigration rally. The ongoing European migrant crisis has prompted numerous anti-immigration and solidarity protests across the region, including in Poland, in recent weeks. These have been well attended and have resulted in significant disruptions in the affected cities. While previous associated protests in Poland have concluded relatively peacefully, the possibility of isolated incidents of unrest at the upcoming demonstration cannot be discounted. Persons in Warka on 30 October are advised to avoid large street protests and concentrations of security forces as a precaution. Localised travel disruptions should be anticipated in the vicinity of all gatherings.

ARMENIA(YEREVAN) - Several opposition parties and activist groups in Armenia are expected to stage a demonstration against proposed constitutional reforms in the country's capital, Yerevan, on 30 October. The rally has also been called to protest the arrests of a number of demonstrators at previous associated protests. Participants are expected to gather at Freedom Square from 18:00 local time. The upcoming demonstration is the latest in a series of increasingly anti-government protests against proposed constitutional amendments in the capital that began in late September. Although the demonstration is expected to conclude without incident, previous such gatherings have been marred by low-level clashes between protesters and police officials; as such, the possibility of violence cannot be dismissed. The rally is likely to be well attended; as such, localised travel disruptions should be anticipated in the vicinity of Freedom Square. Persons in Yerevan on 30 October are advised to avoid the upcoming demonstration as a precaution and should monitor local developments closely. Travel disruptions are expected in the vicinity of demonstration-affected sites.

MACEDONIA(SKOPJE) - Activist groups, including the Solidarity group, are set to stage daily protests in Macedonia's capital, Skopje; these began on 26 October. Demonstrations have been called with regard to the inadequacy of the health sector. Participants are expected to gather outside the government buildings, located on Ilinden Boulevard, from 18:00 local time. These protests are expected to be held for an indefinite period. The demonstration campaign has served to highlight the growing dissatisfaction with the current government administration and protesters have renewed their demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski. Related protests have been well attended and have concluded without major incident. However, given the anti-government nature of the protests, the possibility of unrest cannot be discounted. Localised travel disruptions are expected in the vicinity of the government buildings for the short-to medium-term. Persons in Skopje are advised to monitor local media for updates on associated demonstrations and developments. All street protests should be avoided as a precaution. Caution is advised in the vicinity of government and Parliament buildings and while travelling in the city centre.

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