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

BELGIUM(BRUSSELS AIRPORT) - (Update) The Belgian Civil Aviation Authority granted Brussels Airport permission to partially restart commercial flight services from 1 April. Although it remains unclear exactly when airport operations will resume, airport authorities have made it clear that flights are not expected to commence until late on 1 April. In addition, due to the extensive damage caused to the departures terminal, the airport will only process around 20 percent of the usual volume of departing passengers. Additional security checks, including baggage inspections at the airport entrance, are expected to cause further travel disruptions. Increased security measures, particularly additional deployments of security forces and stringent identification checks, should be expected at the airport and are likely to cause some travel delays. Further disruptions to travel services across the region should be anticipated as Belgium reviews and increases border controls and security measures in response to the incident. Persons currently in Brussels are advised to exercise heightened situational and personal security awareness at all times. Persons scheduled to transit Brussels Airport in the coming days are advised to contact their travel provider or airline for an update on the status of their flight(s). Clients are further advised to report all suspicious packages or persons to the relevant authorities immediately.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES/UNITED KINGDOM(EMIRATES) - Emirates is to add a tenth daily service between Dubai and London from October. The new B777-300ER flight to Gatwick will be the fourth daily service to the south London airport, and the tenth in total to the capital, complementing the Gulf carrier's six daily flights to Heathrow. The new service will launch on October 1, with EK023 departing Dubai at 0950, landing into Gatwick at 1430. The return leg EK024 will leave London at 1650, landing back into Dubai at 0240 the following day. The B777-300ER serving the route will be configured for eight first class suites, 42 in business class, and 310 in economy. The news comes just days after Emirates started its sixth daily frequency to Heathrow, initially operating the route with B777-300ER aircraft but with plans to upgrade flights to the carrier's Airbus A380 superjumbo from June.

UNITED KINGDOM(BIRMINGHAM) - Rival demonstrations are expected in Birmingham, UK, on 2 April. Far-right group, PEGIDA UK is set to stage a silent protest march on the day, with participants expected to gather outside the Birmingham International railway station from 13:00 local time and proceed to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) (located on North Avenue), where a rally will be held. Anti-fascist groups, including Unite Against Fascism will hold a demonstration at Victoria Square from 13:00. PEGIDA has grown in popularity in Europe, with local groups and branches being formed in different countries. Associated demonstrations by the group and their various factions have often been met by counter-demonstrations by rival groups. Although the upcoming march and demonstrations are expected to conclude peacefully, the possibility of isolated skirmishes cannot be discounted. Localised travel disruptions should be anticipated in the affected areas. Persons in Birmingham on 2 April are advised to avoid all large street gatherings and concentrations of security forces as a standard precaution. Localised travel disruptions are anticipated at associated gatherings sites.

BELGIUM(BRUSSELS) - Local authorities in the Molenbeek area of Brussels are set to deploy additional police units to the Place Communale and surrounding area on 2 April due to the threat of rival demonstrations taking place despite a ban on related gatherings. Rival far-right and anti-fascist gatherings had been called for in Place Communale on 2 April before authorities banned the events, citing fears of violence. The demonstrations were banned following clashes at a similar gathering in Place de la Bourse, in central Brussels, on 27 March. Far-right demonstrators, under the banner of the Generation Identitaire group, stormed a memorial gathering in Place de la Bourse, clashed with police and harassed individuals who appeared to be of North African or Arabic descent. Far-right rallies often prompt counter-demonstrations by opposing groups. Should either or both gatherings take place there is an elevated risk of clashes with police, who will likely attempt to disperse the protest. Clients in Brussels on 2 April are advised to avoid all street protests and concentrations of security forces as a standard precaution.

JAPAN(WAKAYAMA PREFECTURE) - A 6.0 magnitude offshore earthquake has been reported 56km south east of Shingu , located in Japan's Wakayama prefecture, on 1 April. The earthquake was recorded at a depth of approximately 10km. There have been no immediate reports of property damage and/or casualties; a tsunami warning has not been issued. Aftershocks are possible in the affected area. Persons in the affected area are advised to take the necessary precautions, including following the directives of the local authorities. Aftershocks may occur in the region and should be anticipated. Clients are further advised to monitor local media and emergency broadcast channels for updates and advisories from the authorities.

IRAQ(SOUTHERN IRAQ) - Kuwaiti businessman, Khaled Abdulrazzaq Al Sarhan, was reportedly kidnapped by unidentified assailants in southern Iraq on an unspecified date in late March. The victim was travelling on a business trip to the city of Nasiriyah (Dhi Qar governorate) when he was abducted. The victim was expected home on 23 March. On 27 March, the victim's family was reportedly contacted by his apparent kidnappers, who requested 1 million US dollars for his safe release. Further details are unavailable. This recent incident serves to highlight the high risk of kidnapping in southern Iraq. Reasons for kidnappings vary and include both criminal/financial and political motives. These kidnappings have involved all demographics, including foreigners, and have involved ransom figures of varying amounts. Clients are advised against all non-essential travel to several southern governorates, including Wasit, Muthanna, Najaf, Basra, Dhi Qar, Maysan and Qadisiyah due to ongoing insecurity. Clients operating in these areas should travel with a security escort and maintain a low public profile.

IRAQ(BAGHDAD & SOUTHERN CITIES & TOWNS) - (Update) Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of the Sadrist Movement and the spiritual leader of the al-Ahrar Bloc in Iraq's Parliament, issued an order on 31 March for his followers to end a sit-in protest against the government of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. The protesters, who had been gathered in the Green Zone (International Zone) in the capital, Baghdad, where pressing the prime minister to appoint a new technocratic cabinet as a step towards ending corruption. Al-Abadi nominated a new cabinet on 31 March ending two weeks of peaceful protests. Al-Sadr has however called on his followers to continue with protests on 1 April following Friday prayers to demand that Parliament approve the new cabinet. The appointment of a new technocratic cabinet and the end of the sit-in is a positive development and will serve to de-escalate political tensions and the threat of violent civil unrest. However, the proposed cabinet may face opposition in Parliament. If the process to affirm the new appointees is delayed, a re-escalation in tensions is possible. Protests on Friday are anticipated in Baghdad. Sadr City, the Green Zone or Tahrir Square are possible gathering points. Protests further south, in cities where al-Sadr has support, such as Karbala, Hilla, Najaf, Basra, Amarah and Nasriyah, are also expected to persist. Clients are advised against all travel to Baghdad, Karbala and Babil, and all non-essential travel to several southern governorates, including Wasit, Muthanna, Najaf, Basra, Dhi Qar, Maysan and Qadisiyah. Persons operating in these areas should monitor local developments closely and seek to avoid all street protests.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC(SANTO DOMINGO, HATO MAYOR, SEIBO, DUARTE & SAMANA PROVINCES) - The ruling Dominican Liberation Party will hold a series of rallies in various areas across the Dominican Republic from 31 March to 3 April, ahead of the 2016 general election, which is scheduled to be held on 15 May. On 31 March, a caravan march will be held in the National District from 16:30 local time. The march will begin at the intersection of Avenida Enrique Jimenez Moya and Mirador Sur, and proceed through Ensanche La Paz, Barrio 30 de Mayo, El Portal, Los Jardines del Sur, San Miguel, Miramar, Costa Caribe, la Urbanizacion Gacela, INVI and Pedrega. Rallies will also be held in the Pedro Brand and Los Alcarrizos municipalities of Santo Domingo province on 1 April. On 2 April, rallies will be held in Sabana de la Mar and Miches and on 4 April, rallies will be held in Guaraguo, Las Terrenas and Samana. The upcoming rallies are likely to be well supported; as such, localised traffic disruptions are anticipated. It should be noted that political demonstrations in the Dominican Republic, including during election periods, have turned violent in the past and police tend to be heavy-handed in their response to such incidents. As such, while the upcoming rallies are expected to conclude peacefully, the possibility of similar skirmishes cannot be discounted. Persons operating in the affected areas between 31 March and 3 April are advised to avoid the upcoming rallies and all related gatherings as a precaution. Allowances should be made for localised traffic disruptions.

PAKISTAN(SINDH PROVINCE) - A protest campaign, called by a coalition of opposition parties known as the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), is underway on 1 April in Pakistan's Sindh province. The protest campaign will begin in the city of Hyderabad, and from there will move to other urban areas in the province on 2 April, specifically Tando Allahyar, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot. A statement issued by the GDA indicates that rallies will also be held in other major urban centres in Sindh on 2 April, but further details pertaining to these demonstrations remain unclear. In addition, a further rally will take place in Mithi on 3 April. The rallies are being held to denounce poor governance and corruption of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which rules at a provincial level. It is unclear how long the campaign will continue for. Although the marches are intended to conclude peacefully, there is a credible risk of violent civil unrest at all protests in Pakistan, as security forces often use heavy-handed tactics when dispersing demonstrations; even sanctioned gatherings intended to be peaceful have degenerated into violence. It is unclear how well attended the demonstrations will be; nonetheless, localised travel disruptions are expected along the march route and associated gathering sites. Clients are advised against all non-essential travel to Sindh province. Persons in the province are advised to avoid all large street gatherings and security forces as a precaution.

ARGENTINA - There is a possibility of nationalist demonstrations on 2 April. The day marks the 34th anniversary of the start of the Falkland Islands War, fought between Argentina and the UK in 1982. This day is known locally as Dia de Malvinas. Tensions pertaining to the ownership of the Falkland Islands are expected to be further elevated on the day, and this may prompt civil unrest. In previous years, demonstrations have focused on the British Embassy on avenida Dr Luis Agote in the capital, Buenos Aires; other areas of the city that are prone to protests include Plaza de Mayo, Congreso Nacional and avenida 9 de Julio. Possible demonstrations pose a threat of violence and traffic disruptions in and around affected areas. It should be noted that participants at all related gatherings are also likely to harbour some anti-British sentiment. Clients in Argentina are advised to monitor local media for demonstration notices. All protest gatherings should be avoided, and caution should be exercised in the vicinity of British interests in the country, particularly in Buenos Aires. As a precautionary measure, British nationals and other Western nationals should maintain a low profile on 2 April.

COLOMBIA - Opposition supporters led by former president, Alvaro Uribe, and the opposition political party, Democratic Centre, have called for protests across Colombia on 2 April. The protests have been called to denounce government policy, including its economic policy and the ongoing peace process between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the government. Protests are anticipated in major cities across the country, including in the capital, Bogota. The demonstrations are likely to be well attended given Uribe's continued popularity countrywide. The Democratic Centre, which holds approximately 20 percent of the seats in the Senate and 10 percent of the seats in the House of Representatives, also has a wide appeal. Protests are likely to conclude without major incident; however, low-level clashes between protesters and the police cannot be discounted. Clients in Colombia on 2 April should monitor local media for updates and advisories from the authorities and for further information on the location of planned protests in their area of travel. All street protests should be avoided as a precaution. Furthermore, please note that clients are advised against all non-essential travel to rural and remote areas of Colombia, specifically to areas outside of secure urban and tourist centres (Bogota, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Medellin and Santiago de Cali). This advisory is in place due to high levels of insecurity, partly as a result of the presence of non-state armed groups and the associated risks of kidnapping, conflict and terrorism.

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