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

ITALY(LOMBARDY REGION) - Various rail sector unions have called for a strike in Italy's northern Lombardy region on 11 May. The action is set to take place from 09:00 until 17:00 local time. The peak hours between 06:00 to 09:00 and between 18:00 to 21:00 will remain unaffected by the strike action. The protests come amid ongoing disputes regarding a number of labour-related grievances, including withheld wages and working conditions. Italy's public transport sector is regularly affected by work stoppages and strike actions. The upcoming work stoppages are expected to be well-observed and may result in significant disruptions to train travel services in aforementioned region. An increased demand for alternative public transport services is likely during the aforementioned strike period. It should be noted that the transport unions have warned of further associated protests in late May. Persons in the Lombardy region are advised to anticipate disruptions to rail services on 11 May and plan accordingly. Clients are also advised to monitor local media for updates regarding the planned strike and related disruptions. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure website (http://scioperi.mit.gov.it/mit2/public/scioperi) may also be consulted for additional information on the action.

FRANCE(PARIS) - Unionised train drivers employed by France's national railway company, SNCF, are set to stage a demonstration in the capital, Paris, on 10 May. Participants are expected to gather at the Montparnasse train station, in the 15th arrondissement, from 11:30 local time before proceeding to the Ministry of Transport for a rally. The participation of train drivers is not expected to impact on rail services in the city. The upcoming demonstration is expected to be well-attended. As such, localised traffic disruptions are anticipated in the vicinity of the gathering. A number of recent union-led protests in Paris have been marred by violent civil unrest. Although the upcoming demonstration is unrelated to those protests, the possibility of low-level clashes cannot be discounted. Persons in Paris on 10 May are advised to avoid all large street gatherings and concentrations of security forces as a general precaution.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC(VARIOUS PROVINCES) - At least 2,500 people have been displaced and more than 500 homes affected as a result of adverse weather conditions and associated flooding in the Dominican Republic, as of 9 May. The country's Centre of Emergency Operations (COE) has issued an adverse weather alert for heavy rain and further possible flooding and mudslides in 24 provinces, primarily in the north eastern, eastern and south eastern parts of the country. The flooding has resulted in some disruptions to road travel, as five bridges leading to 31 rural communities and two major roads in various parts of the country have been damaged. Further rainfall is expected on 9 May; this may exacerbate flood conditions in areas already affected. As such, further disruptions to road travel should be anticipated. Additionally, disruptions to utilities, such as electricity and telecommunications, remain possible. Settlements located along the slopes of saturated hillsides are at a heightened risk of being impacted by landslides. Persons in the affected areas are advised to monitor local media for any updates and abide by the directives of the local authorities, should they be issued. Weather warnings can also be accessed at the COE website (http://www.coe.gob.do/). Allowances should be made for associated disruptions; travellers should confirm the status of roads with the local authorities prior to departure. Particular caution is advised in low-lying areas and elevated regions due to the respective threats of flooding and landslides.

WESTERN SAHARA(TERRITORY WIDE) - The anniversary of the 1973 founding of the Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro (Polisario Front) falls on 10 May in the Western Sahara. Commemorative events or anti-Morocco rallies are possible across the territory on the day of, as well in the days leading up to or following, the anniversary. In addition, further commemorative rallies and protests are anticipated on 20 May, coinciding with the initiation of a conflict against Spain, which later expanded into a war against Morocco. The conflicts were initiated with the goal of creating an independent Sahrawi state. Fighting ended with a UN-initiated ceasefire in 1991; however, Sahrawi agitation has persisted in the form of occasional localised and periodic widespread anti-Morocco protests in coastal cities, including Laayoune and Dakhla. Currently, the Polisario Front controls the eastern third of the Western Sahara (known as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic or SADR) and Morocco administers the coastal areas and immediate interior. A mined sand berm separates the two regions. The threat of violence at protests around the 10 and 20 May anniversary protests is considered elevated in western Morocco-controlled areas of the territory. Violence is not expected in the SADR area. Clients are advised against all non-essential travel to the SADR-administered territory, located east of the berm, due to the threats of banditry and kidnapping, and against all non-essential travel to within 5km of the berm due to a landmine risk. Persons in the territory over the coming weeks are advised to avoid all street protests or demonstrations.

INDIA(DELHI) - Various organisations of the Jat community, including the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS), are expected to participate in a rally in India's capital, Delhi, on 10 May. The rally is scheduled to take place at Jantar Mantar and has been called to demand reservation under the Other Backward Class (OBC) quota in states outside of Haryana. The AIJASS represents the interests of the ethnic Jat community. Community members are demanding equitable inclusion in India's caste-based quota system. Sustained violent and disruptive protests were reported from 17 to 22 February; authorities deployed additional troops, placed a ban on all gatherings and declared dawn-to-dusk curfews in the worst-affected areas. As such, the threat of violence between police and protesters at the upcoming rally is considered elevated. Localised disruptions are also likely in the vicinity of the affected area. Persons in Delhi on 10 May are advised to monitor local media for developments and updates regarding the strike action and associated protest actions. All street demonstrations and concentrations of security forces should be avoided as a precaution. Additionally, clients are advised to maintain flexible itineraries in order to make allowances for potential travel delays.

COMOROS(ANJOUAN ISLAND) - A partial presidential rerun election is scheduled to be held on the Comorian island of Anjouan on 11 May, following concerns over apparent electoral irregularities during the presidential run-off on 10 April. The Constitutional Court announced the new polls after an estimated 6,000 people in Anjouan were reportedly unable to vote during the second round of elections. Security measures are set to be elevated ahead of the rerun, and associated disruptions are likely on the day of the ballot. It should be noted that the Governor of Anjouan is also set to be elected during the aforementioned ballot. Azali Assoumani of the Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (CRC) was officially elected president after the 10 April runoff, which saw him win 40.95 percent of the vote. However, it should be noted that the runner up, Mohamed Ali Soilihi of the Union for the Development of the Comoros (UPDC), only lost by approximately one percent. Given this narrow margin of victory, the upcoming polls may see a reversal of results. As such, there is an elevated threat of post-election unrest once the results are officially announced. Politically motivated agitations may pose in incidental risk to bystanders. Persons in Anjouan on 11 May are advised to avoid all election-related facilities and events as a standard precaution. Local media should be monitored for updates on the polls, as well as for related advisories from the authorities.

GUATEMALA - Several civil society organisations, including the Committee for Peasant Development (CODECA), are scheduled to take part in a countrywide general strike in Guatemala on 11 May. Protests and sit-ins are expected to accompany the strike action in various urban locales including the capital, Guatemala City. The strike has been initiated in response to a number of socio-economic and historical grievances. Protests and strikes motivated by political developments occur regularly in Guatemala, particularly in Guatemala City. While the forthcoming protests are intended to be peaceful, protests in Guatemala have the potential to turn violent and can also cause significant disruptions to essential services and transport. In addition, security forces are known to use heavy-handed tactics in dealing with dissent. Localised road travel disruptions should be anticipated in the vicinity of all protest sites. Clients in Guatemala on 11 May are advised to make allowances for localised travel disruptions due to the strike. All large street gatherings should be avoided as a standard precaution.

CHILE - Various student groups in Chile, including CONFECH, CoNES and ACES, have called for countrywide protests over education reforms on 11 May. The protests are expected to commence at 10:30 local time; however, further details have not been disclosed. In the capital, Santiago, possible gathering points include Plaza Baquedano (Plaza Italia), Plaza los Heroes and the Ministry of Education building. Protesters are also known to march along Avenue Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins (La Alameda). Protests in urban areas elsewhere will likely centre on universities and other education facilities, as well as government buildings. Education sector protests and strikes take place frequently in Chile and are generally well attended; as such, localised travel disruptions should be anticipated in the vicinity of all protest areas, particularly in the capital. Clients should note that there is a credible risk of isolated incidents of violence at all education-related protests in Chile, as past demonstrations have been affected by low-level clashes between protesters and police. Clients in Chile on 11 May are advised to monitor local media for updates and to make allowances for travel disruptions in the vicinity of protest-affected areas. All street protests should be avoided as a precaution.

PERU(ISLAY PROVINCE, AREQUIPA REGION) - A 72-hour strike against the Tia Maria mining project has been called in Islay province, in Peru's Arequipa region, from 11 to 13 May. The strike is expected to impact on the Cocachacra, Dean Valdivia and Punta de Bombon areas of the province. Protesters are demanding the final withdrawal of the mining project. Mining-related strikes are frequently accompanied by disruptive demonstrations in Peru. These could also include the imposition of unofficial roadblocks throughout the affected province. The strike action is expected to proceed peacefully; however, it should be noted that a number of strikes and protests against the Tia Maria mining project in Arequipa in 2015 were marred by violence, which left at least four people dead. As such, the possibility of the violence at the upcoming strike cannot be fully discounted. Clients in Islay province between 11 and 13 May are advised to monitor local media for more information regarding the strike action and make allowances for the associated disruptions. All street protests should be avoided.

SPAIN(MADRID) - The Confederacion General Del Trabajo (CGT) teachers union has called for protest action in Spain's capital, Madrid, on 11 and 12 May. The action is set to commence at 18:00 local time on both days. The protests will be held outside the Ministry of Education (Consejeria De Educacion), located on Calle de Alcala 32. The agitation has been launched in response to disputes regarding aspects of the Organic Law on the Improvement of the Quality of Education (LOMCE). Disruptions to travel are anticipated in the vicinity of the affected area. While the demonstration is expected to conclude peacefully, the possibility of isolated low-level confrontations cannot be discounted. The event is expected to be well attended; as such, localised travel disruptions should be anticipated in central Madrid. Persons in Madrid on 11 and 12 May are advised to avoid all related gatherings as a standard precaution. Localised travel disruptions should be anticipated in the vicinity of protest-affected sites.

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