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

IRELAND(DUBLIN) - A strike by unionised drivers is set to result in the closure of the Luas light rail system in Ireland's capital, Dublin, on 13 May. Transdev, the Luas operator, has announced that services on both the Red and Green lines will not run on the impacted day. Normal service will resume on 14 May from 06:30 local time. There are also full day stoppages planned for 20 and 27 May, and Luas spokespersons have announced a four-hour stoppage is likely to occur on 26 May (15:00 to 19:00). The upcoming work stoppage will be the latest Luas has experienced over the past weeks. The previous strike, on 4 May, affected approximately 90 000 people. Strikes are said to continue as Transdev refuses to meet demands by Luas drivers, who are represented by the Service Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU), for a 23 percent pay increase. Clients should take note that Luas tickets will not be valid on services of other public transport service providers during these strike actions. Luas has ensured a replacement bus service during the temporary closure. Nonetheless, disruptions are still expected. Clients are advised to use alternative transport on the day of the strike and monitor local news for updates. Due to increased demand for other modes of public transport, especially the additional bus service provided by Luas, clients should consider organising and/or booking other means of intra-city transport in advance.

UNITED KINGDOM - On 11 May, the UK's Security Service (MI5) increased the threat level for dissident Irish Republican-related terrorism affecting England, Scotland or Wales from 'moderate' to 'substantial', the third-highest of five levels. The threat level for dissident Irish Republican-related terrorism affecting Northern Ireland itself remains at 'severe', which is the second-highest of the five levels on the terrorism threat scale. Authorities have not released details of any intelligence that has directly led to the threat level being increased. However, senior police officials have recently indicated that dissident Irish Republican groups have demonstrated improved capabilities to plan and carry out attacks, including the use of homemade bombs on roadsides and under vehicles, as well as close quarter shootings. Although a specific terrorist threat is present in the UK, the relative proficiency of the country's security forces, and generally elevated security footing following increased Islamist extremist activity in Europe in recent months, mitigates this risk. Nonetheless, the risk of small-scale incidents related to the dissident threat taking place cannot be discounted over the medium-term. Clients in or planning to be in the United Kingdom are advised to exercise heightened situational awareness and to comply with all directives issued by local authorities. All suspicious persons, packages and/or vehicles should be reported to the local authorities.

BRAZIL - (Update) Brazil's ruling Workers' Party (PT), and the Frente Brasil Popular movement have called for protests in support of President Dilma Rousseff in various parts of the country, on 12 May. Details regarding these protests can be viewed on the PT website (http://www.pt.org.br/agenda/) and on the Frente Brazil Popular website (http://www.pt.org.br/agenda/). Anti-government protests are also likely on the day; although none have been announced as yet, these are likely to be led by the Movimento Brasil Livre (MBL) and the Vem Pra Rua Brasil movements. The protests will take place amid an ongoing session in which Brazil's Senate (upper house) will vote on whether an impeachment trial should be launched against the president. Recent months have been characterised by mass street protests, both in support of Rousseff and the PT, and by groups opposing her presidency, which are in favour of impeachment proceedings being brought against her. A simple majority is needed for this vote to be passed; the decision is expected to be made on 12 May. In addition to the 12 May protests, related protests should be anticipated in the subsequent days as well. Minor scuffles between police and pro-government demonstrators broke outside the National Congress building in the capital, Brasilia, on 11 May; nonetheless, the protests to date have been largely peaceful, albeit disruptive. It should be noted that the potential for protests to escalate, and to devolve into street-level violence, in response to political developments, does exist, including on 12 May. Clients in Brazil should monitor local media for updates on political developments and should avoid all street protests as a general precaution. Additional details on possible protest gathering points are often announced on the PT website or Frente Brasil Popular website, or on social media platforms associated with the opposition (https://www.facebook.com/VemPraRuaBrasil.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/mblivre/).

FRANCE - Seven large unions have called for countrywide demonstrations against a proposed labour law, known locally as the El Khomri law, on 12 May. The protests will be supported by a myriad of organizations and student groups according to media reports, and will coincide with a debate about the law in the National Assembly on 12 May. Demonstrators in Paris will gather in the vicinity of Denfert-Rochereau metro station at 14:00 local time before proceeding along Raspail and du Montparnasse Boulevards to the National Assembly building, where union delegates will demand to meet with the President of the National Assembly, followed by a rally at 29 rue Andre Joineau Le Pre-Saint-Gervais. Elsewhere in France, demonstrations will likely center on public squares, and outside government buildings. The upcoming demonstrations are expected to be very well-attended, with support form the CGT, FO, FSU, Solidaires, UNEF, Fidl, and UNL unions. Recent union-led protests in France have been marred by low-level, but widespread, incidents of violence and vandalism. Clashes between protesters and police were reported in Nantes, Paris, Lyon and Rennes, as well as elsewhere. Accordingly, a significant police presence is likely to accompany the upcoming demonstrations. Localised traffic disruptions are also likely. Clients in France on 12 May are advised to avoid all protests as a standard precaution. Clients are further advised to make allowances for localised travel disruptions in the vicinity of the protest.

PAKISTAN(LAHORE) - The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), a large opposition party, has scheduled a rally in Lahore on 12 May. The event will take place outside the Punjab provincial legislative assembly buildings, located at Charing Cross (Faisal Chowk Square) on Mall Road in central Lahore. The exact starting time of the rally is unclear, but precedent suggests it will start in late afternoon or early evening. The rally follows a series of demonstrations elsewhere in the country in recent weeks, aimed at highlighting corruption in government. More specifically, the event will also be used as a platform for PTI supporters to press the government to launch a full investigation into the Panama Papers leak. The Panama Papers are a collection of recently leaked banking records which showed a connection between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's family and offshore bank accounts of questionable legality. The opposition states that the commission formed to investigate these claims will protect the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N) party by failing in its role to properly investigate the individuals concerned. The rally is likely to be well attended, and its location in a public space in central Lahore will result in localised road travel disruptions. Although the rally is intended to pass peacefully, as with all such events in Pakistan, the risk of clashes between police and participants cannot be discounted. Due to a number of security concerns, clients are advised against all non-essential travel to most of Pakistan, including Lahore. Persons currently in Lahore are advised to avoid the rally and surrounds as a standard precaution.

NIGERIA(ABUJA) - A Regional Security Summit will be held in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, on 14 May. Preparatory meetings will be held on 12 and 13 May. A number of heads of state are expected to attend the summit, including the leaders of Nigeria, France, Cameroon, Niger, Chad, Senegal, Togo and Benin. Representatives of the US, UK, Equatorial Guinea, the EU and ECOWAS will also attend. The focus of the event will be the regional coordinated action against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad area and north eastern Nigeria. The exact location of the summit is unclear. Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari will meet with French president Francois Hollande at the Presidential Villa on 14 May. The event is expected to be met with a heavy security force deployment across the city, including at the primary airport, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, roads leading from the airport to Abuja and at government facilities, including the Presidential Villa. Disruptions to operations at the airport and roads may also occur in light of the security measures. Clients in the city from 12 to 14 May should monitor local media for updates on road closures and other security measures. Itineraries should be adjusted to cater for potential road delays and travellers should contact their travel provider to check the status of their flight(s) prior to departure.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO(LUBUMBASHI) - (Update) Protests are anticipated in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)'s city of Lubumbashi, on 13 May, amid the ongoing trial of Moise Katumbi. Katumbi, former governor of the Katanga province and presidential candidate, is scheduled to appear before a public prosecutor in court as part of an inquiry into his alleged use of mercenaries in a bid to destabilise the government. Katumbi supporters have stated that the allegations are politically motivated, and ostensibly an attempt to stop him from competing in the country's presidential elections, tentatively scheduled for November 2016. Incumbent president Joseph Kabila is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election and his critics allege the inquiry may be an attempt to prevent Katumbi from contesting the upcoming election; at least 27 opposition party members have been detained since April 2016. Additionally, oppositions groups have embarked on an ongoing campaign of protests and agitations against Kabila in recent months, amid unconfirmed reports of his intentions to postpone general elections on financial grounds, which would extend his presidential term for an indefinite period. As tensions regarding these issues remain elevated, and significant levels of unrest were reported at a related gathering outside the courthouse in Lubumbashi on 11 May, there is a credible risk of violence and associated unrest at all associated upcoming gatherings. Additionally, attempts by security forces to disperse the protests could incite retaliatory attacks by protesters, which could include, among other activities, stone-throwing, vandalism and the informal blockade of roads. Such unrest poses an incidental threat to bystanders. Clients are advised against all non-essential travel to Lubumbashi. Persons in the city and the capital should monitor local developments closely and avoid all street protests as a standard precaution.

JAPAN(CHIYODA, TOKYO) - Anti-nuclear demonstrations are expected outside the main gate of the National Diet Building in Chiyoda, Tokyo on 13 May from 18:30 local time. Demonstrators are protesting against the likely resumption of operations at the 40 year old Ikata Nuclear Power Plant, as well as against the continued operation of the Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima Prefecture, which remains in use despite the large earthquakes which caused extensive damages in the nearby Kumamoto Prefecture in April. The use of nuclear power remains a polarising and emotive issue in Japan since the March 2011 8.9 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami killed over 19,000 people on Honshu island. The tsunami also severely damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima prefecture, prompting the evacuation of over 160,000 people. Since the Fukushima incident, anti-nuclear protests have become a regular occurrence. Protest action is common in Tokyo, where the majority of anti-nuclear protests have taken place since March 2011, often attended by thousands of people. The demonstrations are expected to conclude peacefully, although localised travel disruptions are likely. Clients in Tokyo are advised to avoid all demonstrations as a standard precaution, and to anticipate travel disruptions in the vicinity of the National Diet Building.

VENEZUELA(CARACAS) - (Update) The Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) opposition party has called for further anti-government protests in Venezuela's capital, Caracas, on 14 May. Participants are expected to gather at Casanova Avenue at 10:00 local time. The protests have been organised to pressure the National Electoral Council (CNE) to act on the MUD's recall referendum petition against President Nicolas Maduro. The upcoming protest was called after police fired teargas at protesters at a related rally in Caracas on 11 May, preventing them from marching to the CNE building. The MUD anticipated the conclusion of the revision of signatures by 10 May; however, the CNE has stated that the counting of signatures may still take weeks. These delays in the verification of the signatures will likely continue to spark unrest across the country. It should be noted that political tensions between the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and the MUD remain elevated as the opposition seeks to remove Maduro from office. The political crisis also coincides with an ongoing economic crisis and associated shortages of basic commodities. In light of this, there remains the possibility of a significant deterioration in the political situation over the coming months. It should be noted that previous anti-government protests have descended into looting and rioting in some areas. As such, and in light of the violence on 11 May, the possibility of similar incidents and low-level violence between protesters and potential counter-protesters, as well as between protesters and security forces, is credible. Clients in Venezuela in the near-term should closely monitor political developments, exercise heightened personal security awareness and maintain a low profile. All street protests and counter-protests, including those on 14 May, should be avoided. Furthermore, in light of the ongoing economic and political crises, clients are advised to ensure that crisis management plans are regularly reviewed and updated.

BOSNIA/HERZEGOVINA(BANJA LUKA) - The Alliance for Change opposition party is expected to hold a protest in the city of Banja Luka, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 14 May. The agitation has been launched due to various grievances, including the government-proposed electricity price increase. Protesters are expected to gather at Mladen Stojanovic park at 12:00 local time, before marching to Krajina Square at 13:00, where a rally is scheduled to take place. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the ruling party, the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), is set to hold a counter-rally in the vicinity of the aforementioned protest. The protest action comes ahead of the local elections, set to be held in October. Furthermore, the anticipated agitation comes amid heightened tensions, as local authorities have not sanctioned the protest action; Alliance for Change party leaders have stated that the protest will proceed regardless. Should the protests proceed, they are expected to be well attended; as such, the risk of low-level confrontations between Alliance for Change supporters and SNSD supporters, and between protesters and security forces, cannot be discounted. Additionally, disruptions to travel should be anticipated in the vicinity of the protest. Clients in Banja Luka on 14 May are advised to avoid all protest gatherings and associated gatherings as a precaution. Additionally, allowances should be made for localised travel disruptions.

SPAIN(MADRID) - The 15-M Movement has called for a major anti-austerity demonstration in Spain's capital, Madrid, on 15 May. The demonstration is set to take place in Madrid's central Puerta del Sol, from approximately 12:00 local time. A moderate police presence should be expected. Related demonstrations, although unconfirmed, are likely in other major cities. 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 15 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. Furthermore, local media should be monitored for information regarding related protests.

MEXICO - The National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) has called for strike action in 23 of Mexico's 31 states from 15 May, for an indefinite period of time. The strike has been organised in response to the government's failure to negotiate with the union on its education reforms. In addition to the strike, protests coinciding with the start of the strike on 15 May, are anticipated in the affected states, including in the CNTE stronghold of Oaxaca and Michoacan, Guerrero and Chiapas. Related protests are also possible in the capital, Mexico City. CNTE frequently holds protests in Mexico, particularly over education reforms; previous agitations on 15 April and 1 May concluded without major incident. In addition to causing disruptions in the education sector, demonstrations associated with strike periods are mostly well attended and have the potential to cause significant disruptions to road travel. The upcoming protests are expected to conclude peacefully; however, the possibility of violence occurring at any event cannot be discounted. Clients in Mexico on 15 May are advised to monitor local media for updates on any related events. All street protests should be avoided as a standard precaution and allowances should be made for any anticipated disruptions. It should be noted that heightened caution is advised across Mexico due to the threats of crime and kidnapping and the incidental risk of organised crime-related conflict.

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