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

EGYPT (EGYPTAIR) / UZBEKISTAN - EgyptAir flight en route to China from Cairo, Egypt, has landed in Urgench, Uzbekistan, on 8 June due to a bomb threat. All passengers and crew have reportedly disembarked and the authorities are inspecting the aircraft. In light of the incident, disruptions are possible at Urgench International Airport in the coming hours. Disruption to EgyptAir schedules may also occur. Clients intending to travel via Urgench International Airport or with EgyptAir on 8 June are advised to contact their travel provider for updates on the status of their flight(s).

Our records indicate your company did not have any travelers scheduled to fly through Cairo International Airport on 8 June who were ticketed through ATG.

NORWAY (SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES) - Disruptions to Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flights are expected in Norway on 9 June, due to a strike by unionised pilots. Aviation unions, including SAS Norge Pilotforening (Snpf), have called for the strike with regard to a number of collective labour agreements with the airline authorities. The strike is expected to affect domestic flights and possibly international flights within the Scandinavian region. Should the strike proceed, significant disruptions to SAS flight services are anticipated. It should be noted that negotiations between the airline authority and the unions are ongoing at this time. Accordingly, there is a possibility that the strike may be postponed or averted with little warning. Persons in Norway scheduled to fly with Scandinavian Airlines for the immediate-term are advised to contact the airline or their travel provider for further information regarding the possible strike and the status of flight services.

Our records indicate your company does not have any travelers scheduled to fly on Scandinavian Airlines on 9 June who were ticketed through ATG.

FRANCE (UNIONISED RAIL WORKERS STRIKE) - Countrywide disruptions to transport services are expected in France on 8 June. Unionised rail workers are set to continue to observe their strike action, following failed negotiations regarding wages and other associated work conditions, between transport authorities and trade unions, including CGT and SUD rail. Unionised employees began their indefinite strike on 2 June; affecting mainly inner-city and regional rail services. The strike action was called with regard to a number of issues affecting rail workers, including wages, and also as part of the ongoing anti-labour reform protests in the country. While transport authorities have implemented contingency plans and minimal rail services have been provided, disruptions, including delays and cancellations, have been reported. In addition, associated protest action has been marred by incidents of unrest, including travel disruptions, clashes between protesters and police and acts of vandalism. Such violent incidents were reported in the vicinity of a number of railway stations, including in the capital, Paris, Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, on 6 June. As such, the possibility of further associated demonstrations being marred by violence and associated disruptions cannot be discounted. As negotiations are said to be ongoing, the strike may be cancelled or postponed on an ad hoc basis. Persons in France are advised to anticipate disruptions to rail services and to plan accordingly. Furthermore, clients are advised to monitor local media for updates and further information regarding the strike action. Clients are also advised to avoid all large street gatherings and concentrations of security forces.

SPAIN (RENFE RAIL SERVICES) - Countrywide disruptions to Renfe rail services are anticipated, due to a series of strikes by unionised employees between 10 and 16 June. Unionised railworkers are set to observe 24-hour strikes on alternating days; including 12 and 14 June. Trade union, Semaf, has called for the strike action in protest of the delay in the implementation of agreed negotiated contractual terms. Disruptions to rail services and an increased demand for alternative modes of transport should be anticipated during the aforementioned period. Due to ongoing grievances between the trade unions and rail operators, further strike action is anticipated. It should be noted that the associated actions may be extended or suspended on an ad hoc basis. Persons intending to use rail services in Spain during the aforementioned affected period are advised to directly contact Renfe (http://www.renfe.com/index.html) or their travel provider to confirm the status of services. Clients are further advised to monitor local media for updates regarding the strike.

GREECE (ATHENS) - Several labour unions in Greece, including ADEDY, have called on their members in the health and education sectors to observe a 24-hour strike on 8 June. The strike has been called with regard to a number of issues affecting the sectors, including low wages, working conditions and related sector-reforms. The action is set to disrupt education and health services on the day. An associated protest march is also scheduled to take place in the capital, Athens, with participants set to gather in the vicinity of the Propylaea gateway, as well as outside the ministries of health and education, from 12:30 local time, and proceed to march to Parliament. It is currently unclear how well the strike action will be supported; however, disruptions to health and education sector services are nonetheless anticipated. Although the protest is expected to conclude peacefully, it should be noted that protest rallies in Greece carry a heightened threat of confrontation between participants and police; as such, the possibility of violent civil unrest during the upcoming demonstration cannot be discounted. The demonstration is expected to be well attended. Localised travel disruptions are possible in the vicinity of associated protest-affected areas. Persons in Athens are advised to monitor local media for updates regarding the planned strike and associated demonstrations. All large street gatherings and concentrations of security forces should be avoided as a precaution. Clients should also anticipate localised travel disruptions and allow for increased travel time in affected areas.

THAILAND (PHUKET) - Two foreign nationals were killed and over 30 more were injured, after two commercial speedboats carrying tourists accidentally collided off the coast of Thailand, on 8 June. The privately-operated vessels (Chor Hongfa 20 and Chollakit 856) collided in the vicinity of Hin Musang (Musang Rock) off Phuket. The vessels were reportedly carrying approximately 60 passengers between the two of them, the majority of which were Chinese and South Korean nationals. The two fatalities are believed to be Chinese nationals. Further information is unavailable at this time. A large number of boat and ferry services operate along Thailand's coastline between the mainland and offshore islands. Accidents of this kind occur sporadically in the region, and are generally caused by a lack of safety equipment, poor vessel maintenance or inclement weather. It should be noted that smaller independently operated vessels are deemed at higher risk as they are subject to fewer safety inspections and prone to experiencing difficulties in heavy weather. Clients are advised to ensure that vessels are seaworthy and have adequate safety measures such as life jackets and life rafts (where applicable) in place before boarding.

BRAZIL (SAO PAULO) - A British national is said to have been sexually assaulted in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The incident reportedly occurred in an unspecified location in the Itaim Bibi district, where the victim was allegedly assaulted by a taxi driver, initially hired to take her home. While investigations into the incident are still ongoing, the suspected attacker has reportedly been arrested. The recent incident highlights the high crime risk in Brazil. While petty street crime is the most prevalent concern, violent crime incidents, including sexual assaults, occur periodically. The majority of victims of serious crime are local citizens; however, foreign nationals are also affected. Much of the violent crime takes place in the lower-income areas surrounding major cities. However, as the recent incident demonstrates, no area is immune to violent criminal activity. Persons in Brazil should remain aware of the prevailing high risks of petty and violent crime and maintain an elevated level of situational awareness at all times. Clients are advised to avoid travelling alone and at night, and should consider being escorted, particularly in cities, by a trusted local escort.

MALAYSIA / PHILIPPINES - (Update) Four Malaysian nationals who were kidnapped from a commercial vessel off the coast of Malaysia's Sabah state on 1 April have been released, according to reports on 8 June. The victims were released in a small village on the coast of the island of Jolo, in the Sulu province of the eponymous Sulu archipelago, in the Mindanao region of the Philippines. They boarded a vessel and were transported back to Sabah state in Malaysia. Government officials in the Philippines have not indicated if a ransom was paid to secure their release, although one was initially demanded by the Abu Sayyaf militant group, which was involved in the initial abduction on 1 April. The victims were on a barge (MV Masfive 6) that was making its way from the Philippines' capital, Manila, to Tawau, on the east coast of Sabah, when it was stopped and boarded by eight armed assailants near Palau Ligitan, an island off the coast of Sabah. The assailants transferred the Malaysian nationals into a small, high-powered vessel and then departed with them in the direction of the Sulu Archipelago, in the Philippines. Three Myanmar and two Indonesian crew members were left behind on the barge. There are a number of criminal and militant groups that are capable of carrying out such an abduction, with Abu Sayyaf being foremost among them. These groups are largely based in the southern Philippines region of Mindanao, particularly in the Sulu Archipelago, and carry out kidnapping operations there. However, as this latest incident and other previous incidents demonstrate, these groups also conduct abductions from the east coast of Sabah, as well as in the waters between the southern Philippines and Malaysia. It should be noted that the majority of incidents target locals and are financially motivated, as opposed to being politically or ideologically motivated. Clients are advised against all travel to the southern Mindanao region and the Sulu Archipelago, including Sulu province. This advisory does not extend to Mindanao's eastern Caraga and Davao regions, to which non-essential travel is advised against. Heightened caution is also advised in the coastal areas and islands of Malaysia's Sabah state. Persons in or planning travel to the area are advised to adopt heightened security precautions at all times.

MOZAMBIQUE (CENTRAL & NORTHERN PROVINCES) - Multiple attacks by suspected militants, said to be aligned with the Mozambique National Resistance Movement (RENAMO), have been reported in various locations in Mozambique in recent days. In Manica province, two people were wounded during attacks on two trucks in the Barue district of the province, on 4 June. More recently, on 7 June, militants reportedly attacked an empty train making its way to the Moatize coal mine in the northern Tete province, leaving at least one person wounded. These recent incidents follow an uptick in suspected RENAMO-led attacks in northern and central Mozambique, including in the provinces of Manica, Sofala, Tete and Zambezia since May. Tensions between RENAMO and the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) party have resulted in low-level security incidents, including shootings and associated kidnappings, targeting state and civilian interests. In response to such incidents, additional governmental security patrols, particularly on major highways, have been implemented. Due to the ongoing tensions, as well as tenuous peace talks between the government and RENAMO, further incidents are expected to persist. Persons are advised to take heightened caution in the rural and remote areas of Mozambique's Sofala, Nampula, Tete, Manica, and Zambezia provinces due to intermittent clashes between security forces and RENAMO members. Due to the risk of conflict and the heightened threat of ambush attacks associated with travelling in the areas mentioned above, clients are advised to limit intercity road and rail travel and to use commercial air travel instead. If road travel is unavoidable, clients should ensure that all movements are coordinated as part of a military convoy.

TURKEY (MARDIN PROVINCE) - According to emerging reports, suspected Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants have clashed with security forces in Midyat, in Mardin province, after detonating a car bomb outside the police headquarters building on 8 June. At least two police officers have been reported dead, while 23 other people have been reported wounded; however, clashes are reportedly continuing in the area and casualty figures are still emerging. Mardin province has been affected by low-level violence between security forces and Kurdish militants allied with the PKK since mid-2015. Bomb blasts, armed clashes and security operations are regularly reported in the region. The authorities have responded with heavy police and military deployments, and have implemented curfews in many areas. Due to the general insecurity in the south eastern provinces, further conflict and terrorist-related activity, including clashes and associated security operations, is expected. Clients are advised to exercise heightened caution in a number of south eastern provinces, including Mardin, due to elevated risks of conflict and terrorism.

AFGHANISTAN (KUNDUZ PROVINCE) - At least 47 locals have been kidnapped following a Taliban-led attack on busses in the village of Malraghi, in the Khanabad district of Afghanistan's Kunduz province, on 8 June. Reports indicate that Sunni militant Taleban fighters intercepted the vehicles along the Kunduz-Takhar highway. Local authorities have launched an operation to locate and rescue the remaining victims. The attack underscores the persistent insecurity and the extreme risk of kidnapping in the country, and is the latest in a spate of similar such large-scale kidnappings in recent days. There are multiple non-state armed groups, including militant and criminal organisations, involved in kidnapping operations. These are motivated by political and financial concerns. The Sunni militant Taleban fighters have been known to target members of the minority and largely Shiite Muslim Hazara ethnic group during kidnapping incidents. The group views Shiite Muslims as heretics and legitimate targets of attack. Furthermore, the incident affirms the elevated risk of travelling by road, even along major intercity routes, in Afghanistan. The security forces have minimal control of routes outside of major cities and the risk of being attacked or kidnapped is elevated in these areas. Clients are advised against all travel to Afghanistan. Persons operating in the country should travel with a close protection officer. Crisis management plans should be regularly reviewed and updated. Enhanced security measures are specifically recommended for persons travelling outside of major cities.

VENEZUELA (CARACAS) - Student activists, university staff and their supporters are set to stage a demonstration in the capital, Caracas, on 9 June. The protest has been organised to call for greater resources for universities, as well as in support of a referendum on recalling embattled President Nicolas Maduro. Details regarding the gathering have been deliberately withheld by the organisers in order to avoid confrontations with security forces; however, the demonstrators are expected to eventual gather outside the headquarters of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. An elevated police presence should be expected at this location. Venezuela is currently experiencing a political crisis partially spurred by an ongoing economic crisis and associated shortages of basic commodities. An increased level of civil unrest has been experienced in recent months, particularly in Caracas, as a result. Previous anti-government protests have descended into looting and rioting in some areas. The possibility of similar incidents and low-level violence 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 concentrations of security forces should be avoided as a precaution. Furthermore, in light of the ongoing economic and political crises, clients are advised to ensure that crisis management plans are regularly reviewed and updated.

KYRGYZSTAN - The anniversary of the 2010 south Kyrgyzstan riots is set to be observed countrywide on 10 June. The anniversary is usually marked by commemorative events and associated rallies in major urban areas, particularly those in the Jalalabad and Osh oblasts. Although no reports have indicated as such, a heightened level of security is anticipated across the region as a precautionary measure. The day commemorates a series of violent clashes between southern Kyrgyzstan's ethnic Kyrgyz majority and Uzbek minority that took place between May and June 2010 following the ousting of former president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, in April of that year. Official reports put the death toll at approximately 400; however, up to 2,000 people may have possibly been killed in the violence, which focused on the two aforementioned oblasts. The issue remains an emotive one, and moreover, ethnic tensions remain high in the region. There have been no official reported calls for demonstrations by either ethnic Kyrgyz or Uzbek groupings; however, the possibility of such events taking place on the day cannot be discounted. In addition, security forces are known to use heavy-handed tactics in dealing with protesters. As such, the possibility of the associated commemorative events being marred by incidents of violence cannot be discounted. There exists an incidental risk to bystanders. Localised travel disruptions in the vicinity of events should also be anticipated. Heightened caution is advised for travel to the oblasts of Osh and Jalalabad, as well as along the shared borders with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, owing to ongoing disputes over the demarcation of these borders. Persons in Kyrgyzstan on 10 June should avoid any demonstrations and commemorative events as a standard precaution.

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