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

UNITED KINGDOM(LONDON) - Rail travel disruptions to major airports in the UK's capital, London, are expected to take place from 24 December due to engineering works. The Gatwick Express service from Victoria station will not run from 22:00 local time on 24 December until 04:00 on 4 January. The Heathrow Express service from Paddington station will be suspended from 20:25 on 24 December until 28 December. As a result of the suspensions of the aforementioned services, an increase in demand for other forms of transport to and from Gatwick and Heathrow airports should be anticipated. Clients planning to travel utilising the airport rail link services are advised to anticipate travel disruptions on the impacted days. Clients are also advised to monitor local media for developments and information on the upcoming disruptions.

VENEZUELA(CARACAS) - An ongoing strike by employees of the public bus system is causing significant disruptions in Venezuela's capital, Caracas. Since 22 December, as many as 200 employees have participated in an open-ended strike as part of a protest linked to various labour grievances, including unpaid benefits. The strike action has not only had an adverse impact on Caracas's bus system, but has also heightened the demand for alternative means of transportation, in addition to increasing traffic on the city's roads. Clients in Caracas are generally advised to avoid using public transportation in the city due to security concerns associated with crime, and high accidents rates. Nonetheless, visitors should ensure that itineraries are kept flexible to accommodate associated travel disruptions, and to pre-book all private transportation in advance.

CHINA(BEIJING) - The US, British, French and Australian governments' respective foreign affairs ministries have issued warnings on 24 December pertaining to a possible attack against Western nationals in the Sanlitun area of the capital, Beijing, over the Christmas period. No further information pertaining to the motivation or exact method of attack was released. However, irrespective of the warning, Chinese authorities had already issued a yellow alert (the second lowest on a four-tier scale) over Christmas and New Year (on 25 December and 1 January respectively) as a precautionary measure, and deployed armed police to prominent locations, such as tourist sites and shopping malls. The threat from terrorism in China is rated as medium, and the capital has not been impacted by any large-scale incidents in recent years. However, Uighur separatists, who claim that they are victims of authoritarian and repressive policies of the central government, have carried out large-scale attacks in the western Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in the past; and a small-scale, albeit high-profile, attack in Beijing in 2013. It should be noted that the security force deployment may result in increased numbers of security checks in Beijing. Such actions may lead to localised travel disruptions. Clients in or planning to be in Beijing in the short-term are advised to maintain heightened levels of situational awareness, and comply with any directives issued by the local authorities.

NIGERIA(NIGER DELTA) - (Update) According to reports on 24 December, five Indian nationals, who were kidnapped by pirates in Nigeria on 11 December, have been released following successful negotiations. The victims were reportedly abducted in the vicinity of Warri, located in Delta State. The circumstances surrounding their release have not been disclosed. This latest incident underscores the high kidnapping and piracy risks in the Niger Delta, including the city of Warri. The threat of piracy in the region has been linked to insecurity in the southern Niger Delta region, with both militants and criminal groups involved in incidents of piracy and kidnapping for political or financial gain. Commercial ships, oil rigs and their crews are often targeted in such incidents; leisure boats are also occasionally targeted. Given the persistent insecurity in the region, further such kidnappings are anticipated. Due to numerous security concerns, clients are advised against all travel to the Niger Delta region, which includes Delta State. Seafarers who intend to sail in the affected area are advised to implement maximum security measures to avoid becoming victims of piracy. Local maritime authorities should be consulted prior to travel for the latest updates on pirate activity.

TURKEY(SOUTH EASTERN PROVINCES) - (Update) Ongoing military operations in south eastern Turkey continue to result in casualties on 24 December, with at least 168 Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants having been killed since the operation began on 15 December. The urban areas of Diyarbakir and Sur (Diyarbakir province), Silopi and Cizre (Sirnak province), and Nusaybin and Dargecit (Mardin province) appear to be focal points; there are reports of shelling, curfews and roadblocks. Further details remain unavailable at this time. The fighting has displaced approximately 200,000 people in the provinces of Sirnak, Diyarbakir and Mardin in recent weeks. In terms of the conflict between the military and the PKK, it has historically taken place in more remote rural areas; however, the latest offensive has seen government troops move into and clash with militants in larger urban areas. The government has deployed thousands of police and military personnel to the south east to confront the PKK since a ceasefire broke down in July 2015. Since then, violence has left at least 2,000 people dead. Given the currents dynamics, conflict is expected to persist for the short-term at least. Clients are advised against all travel to within 10km of the shared border with Syria in the Turkish provinces of Hatay, Kilis, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Mardin and Sirnak, due to the threat of conflict spillover from Syria and an increased risk of terrorism. Heightened caution is advised elsewhere in these provinces (except Sirnak, see below) due to elevated conflict and terrorism risks. Clients are further advised against all non-essential travel to the provinces of Diyarbakir, Van, Sirnak and Hakkari due to the risk of conflict between the Turkish military and Kurd rebels, as well as elevated risks of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and crime. Heightened caution is advised in other eastern and south eastern provinces of Turkey, particularly in rural areas, due to the risks of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, crime, and Kurd rebel-related conflict. These provinces include Ardahan, Agri, Kars, Igdir, Siirt, Batman, Bitlis, Mus, Bingol, Elazig, Erzincan, Tunceli and Erzurum.

SERBIA(BELGRADE) - A farmers' association is set to protest at 12:00 local time on 24 December on Trg Nikole Pasica Street in front of the Serbian Parliament building in the capital, Belgrade. The protest, which is supported by provincial government leaders, is against amendments to agricultural laws that are seen as benefitting certain elites at the expense of the agricultural sector as a whole. Serbian farmers held large demonstrations in Belgrade in November 2015 over land reform issues, causing significant disruptions by driving into the city on tractors en route to Parliament. Similar disruptions are possible on 24 December if the same protest method is used. Persons in Belgrade are advised to avoid all protests as a standard precaution. Furthermore, the protest may result in localised travel disruptions; clients are advised to plan accordingly.

CHILE(SANTIAGO) - A street carnival is expected to cause road closures and associated travel disruptions in Chile's capital, Santiago, on 26 and 27 December. Events, which include parades, concerts and other public festivities, are planned to take place in the Santiago, Recoleta and Independencia municipalities. Although there are no significant security concerns associated with the public festivities, large crowds generally carry the potential of attracting pickpockets and other opportunistic criminals. Moreover, significant disruptions should be anticipated in the aforementioned municipalities in the lead-up to, during and immediately after the festivities. Clients in Santiago are advised to ensure that itineraries are kept flexible if travelling in the Santiago, Recoleta and Independencia municipalities. Clients should also remain vigilant of their possessions and surroundings if attending the festival.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - Elections are scheduled to be held in the Central African Republic (CAR) on 27 December. The elections will be the first of their kind to be held since the overthrow of the regime of Francois Bozize in March 2013 by the Seleka rebel group, which sparked a countrywide ethno-religious war that has left thousands of people dead. Although levels of violence have decreased in recent weeks amid the deployment of foreign and regional peacekeepers, the CAR remains chronically unstable and the possibility of further violence cannot be discounted. The elections are assessed as having a heightened threat of being marred by violence. Armed groups maintain control of parts of the north and east of the country and refute the legitimacy of the upcoming elections, as well as the transitional government responsible for drafting the latest constitution. Christian anti-Balaka groups have also refused to formally recognise the transitional government and the upcoming elections, following the Constitutional Court ruling barring Bozize, whom many anti-Balaka groups support, from contesting the upcoming elections. As such, further violent clashes are likely to persist in the lead-up to, and after, the elections on 27 December. Clients are advised against all travel to the CAR. Persons intending to travel in the country should do so with a close protection officer and should reside in a secure compound or hotel. Contingency plans should be regularly reviewed and updated. Additionally, clients are advised to avoid all large politically motivated gatherings, as well as political offices and election-related facilities as a precaution at this time.

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