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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 / CHINA - Government officials in the UK have announced a new two-year visa for Chinese nations wishing to visit the country. Beginning on Monday, it will enable visitors from China to make multiple trips to the UK for longer periods, the government said in a statement. As well as tourists, the new visa will be available for business people to attend conferences or to investigate setting up a business. Foreign secretary Philip Hammond confirmed the new arrangements during an official visit to Beijing. British visitors to China will also get the same visa arrangement, which will cost Ł85. This is the same price as the six-month visitor visa that Chinese and UK tourists are currently limited to. Hammond said: "It is designed to make it easier for Chinese business people, for Chinese tourists to visit the UK and we hope that it will herald the beginning of a far higher level of interchange and exchange between our two peoples." The foreign secretary added Britain hoped to extend the two-year visa to a ten-year multiple entry at some point in the future."

UNITED STATES(FRONTIER AIRLINES) - Denver-based Frontier Airlines today announced new non-stop service in 42 U.S. markets, with most flights beginning in mid-April. Frontier is adding two new cities - Orlando and Philadelphia - from Austin, two cities - Orlando and Chicago (O'Hare) - from Charlotte, N.C., four new cities - Philadelphia, Houston (IAH), Los Angeles and San Francisco - from Cincinnati and four cities - Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland - from Cleveland. Travelers will be able to fly Frontier to Atlanta and Cincinnati from Houston (IAH), to Chicago (O'Hare), Atlanta and Philadelphia from Kansas City, Mo., and to Atlanta, Philadelphia and Dallas/Fort Worth from Milwaukee. Frontier will also begin flying to Chicago (O'Hare), Orlando and Philadelphia from Nashville, to Orlando and Philadelphia from New Orleans and to Atlanta, Detroit, Seattle and Portland from Phoenix. Most flights start in mid-April, but at least a half dozen won't roll out until May or June to accommodate delivery dates for some of the 18 new aircraft the carrier has on order. None of these new flights will begin as daily service. Depending on the route, schedules are either Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday or Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

GERMANY(LEIPZIG & POTSDAM) - The far-right Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West (PEGIDA) is set to stage rallies in Leipzig and Potsdam, in Germany, on 11 January; significant counter-demonstrations are expected. In Leipzig, a major demonstration to mark the first anniversary of the group's Leipzig offshoot will take place in Augustusplatz from 17:00 local time. Large counter-demonstrations are expected to take place on the Leipzig city ring road at 18:45 and at St Thomas Church on Thomaskirchhof, from 19:15. Meanwhile, in Potsdam, at least two anti-Islam rallies have been called for amid numerous counter-demonstrations. The first demonstration is expected to take the form of a march through the city centre, from 17:00. A counter-demonstration is set to take place in Altenmarkt (Old Market) from 18:30. Elsewhere, on 11 January, in the city's outlying Strausberg area, a separate far-right group will stage a small demonstration. Precedent suggests that each of the demonstrations will be accompanied by a major deployment of security forces. Far-right groups periodically hold protests and demonstrations in Germany, often prompting counter-demonstrations by rival groups. Although the upcoming gatherings will take place amid an increased police presence, the risk of violent civil unrest remains. Localised travel disruptions are anticipated in the vicinity of the demonstrations. Persons in Leipzig or Potsdam on 11 January are advised to avoid the upcoming demonstrations and any counter-demonstrations as a standard precaution. Itineraries should be kept flexible to make allowances for localised travel disruptions.

SOUTH SUDAN(JUBA) - A significant fuel shortage is ongoing in South Sudan's capital, Juba, as of 10 January. The fuel shortage is reportedly coinciding with ongoing power outages that have been affecting the city in recent weeks. The deficiency has resulted in severe disruptions to services at the city's primary public hospital, and at Juba International Airport, as generators at these facilities do not have fuel to operate. It remains unclear as to when the fuel situation in Juba is expected to normalise. The shortage is also likely to be exacerbated by the ongoing electricity supply problems, as the use of generators further impact on fuel supplies in the city. While unlikely, such disruptions may possibly result in outbreaks of civil unrest if the issue is not resolved in the short-term. In addition further disruptions to operations at Juba's airport are possible in the short- to medium-term. Due to a number of security concerns, clients are advised against all travel to South Sudan, including Juba. Clients in Juba are advised to anticipate extensive transport disruptions. Furthermore, all forms of protests, demonstrations and rallies should be avoided.

ANGOLA(LUANDA) - The US Embassy in Luanda, Angola, issued a security message on 8 January warning of a possible security threat in the city. Details regarding the source or target of the threat were not disclosed; however, the embassy did advise against all travel to the Belas Shopping centre, Ulengo Commercial Center and Hotel Baia until 8 February, at least. The threat of terrorism in Angola is assessed as low; there are no known terrorist groups operating in the country and there are no recognised threats stemming from any regional or international terrorist groups. Nonetheless, the possibility of remnants of rebel groups operating in the Cabinda province employing terrorist-style techniques, such as armed attacks and low-level bombings, in sporadic attacks cannot be discounted. Clients operating in Luanda in the near-term are advised to exercise heightened security awareness, particularly when travelling in and around commercial and government interests. All suspicious persons, packages and/or vehicles should be reported to the local authorities immediately.

MOROCCO(RABAT) - Several labour unions in Morocco, namely the General Union of Moroccan Workers (UGMT), Democratic Labor Confederation (CDT), Moroccan Labor Union (UMT), and Democratic Federation of Labor (FDT), have called for a sit-in protest in the capital, Rabat, on 12 January. The protest will take place outside the Parliament building, in the city centre. The exact starting time is unknown. The demonstration is being held to protest pension reforms and an increase in the retirement age from 60 to 63, which is planned to come into effect in 2019. Although the protest is expected to conclude peacefully, localised disruptions are likely, due to the number of demonstrators and probable associated security force deployment. Should any confrontations take place, police are likely to move swiftly and decisively to quell any dissent. Clients in Rabat on 12 January are advised to anticipate localised disruptions in the vicinity of the protest, and to avoid the Parliament building and surrounding areas as a precaution.

POLAND/UKRAINE - Protesting coal miners in Ukraine's Lviv region have indicated their intent to block customs checkpoints with neighbouring Poland on 12 January to protest against unpaid salaries. Further details pertaining to the exact timings and locations of the blockade action remain unconfirmed at present. The protest action is likely to result in disruptions to the movement of goods and people through border crossings along the shared Poland-Ukraine border on 12 January. Moreover, should Ukrainian security forces attempt to remove protesters, the possibility of violent clashes exists. Such actions have the potential to further exacerbate disruptions at impacted border crossings, possibly resulting in their temporary closure. Clients intending on travelling between Poland and Ukraine through land border crossings on 12 January are advised to monitor developments closely, and should anticipate possible lengthy delays at such crossings. All protest action should be avoided.

PERU(AREQUIPA) - Union protests, organized by the Civil Construction Union of Arequipa, are scheduled to take place across the region of Arequipa, including the city of Arequipa, on 12 January. The demonstrations are against the lack of employment opportunities. Reports indicate approximately 4,000 construction workers are currently unemployed. The protest action is likely to be well supported; as such, localised disruptions to travel and business services should be anticipated. The regional capital, Arequipa, is likely to serve as the focal point for any unrest. Protesters in Peru often raise barricades over thoroughfares during demonstrations; this may trigger clashes with police who attempt to remove any obstacles from the roads. Such unrest poses an incidental risk to bystanders. Persons operating in the Arequipa region on 12 January are advised to monitor local media for updates on the strike action, as well as advisories from the local authorities. All demonstrations and large street gatherings should be avoided as a standard precaution.

NEPAL(TERAI REGION) - A protest and an accompanying agitation campaign are expected to affect Nepal's Terai region from 12 to 22 January. The series of protests have been initiated by an alliance of political parties, including the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM), in response to failed negotiations with the Nepal Congress regarding constitutional reforms. Associated agitation is likely to include obstructions to the supply of goods at key Nepal-India entry points. The constitution has been widely opposed by minority groups. The charter, which establishes the state as a secular federal republic with seven regions, has been opposed by minority groups, including the largely low-land Terai region-based Madhesi and Tharu ethnic groups, who have initiated violent protests in recent months ahead of the constitution's promulgation. Associated agitation has included road blockades, particularly near the border with India, which has left Indian supply trucks unable to enter Nepal since late September 2015, resulting in shortages of essential goods across the country. Protests, disruptions to business operations and resultant agitations are likely to continue over the near-term. The threat of violence at these gatherings is considered elevated at this time. Persons in the Terai region are advised to monitor local developments closely for information on the protest campaign. All demonstrations and concentrations of security forces should be avoided as a standard precaution. Heightened caution is advised in the southern Terai region due to the elevated levels of civil unrest and associated violence, as well as the region's history of conflict and terrorism.

BANGLADESH(DHAKA) - The ruling Awami League (AL) has called for a mass rally in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, on 11 January to commemorate Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Homecoming Day. The demonstration was originally scheduled for 10 January; however, it was reportedly postponed to 11 January so as not to coincide with the Akheri Munajat, the first phase of the annual Biswa Ijtema. Participants are set to gather at the Suhrawardy Udyan memorial ground from 14:30 local time. The demonstration is likely to be well attended; as such, localised travel disruptions are possible in the vicinity of Suhrawardy Udyan. Although the upcoming rally is expected to conclude peacefully, the possibility of low-scale violence occurring cannot be discounted, particularly if opposition supporters choose to attend the demonstration. Clashes between protesters and opposition activists may pose an indiscriminate risk to bystanders. Persons in Dhaka on 11 January are advised to avoid the rally and all associated street gatherings as a standard precaution. Itineraries should be kept flexible in order to make allowances for possible travel disruptions in the vicinity of Suhrawardy Udyan. It should be noted that persons operating in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region and near the border with India are advised to exercise heightened caution due to various security concerns.

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