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

BRAZIL / SINGAPORE (SINGAPORE AIRLINES) - On Oct. 20, Singapore Airlines will end service to São Paulo, to which it flies three times weekly from Singapore via Barcelona. It will continue to operate flights between Singapore and Barcelona.

UNITED STATES (WASHINGTON, DC - FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS) - A number of airports servicing the capital of the US, Washington DC, may be subject to significant delays and disruptions amid severe thunderstorms on 22 June. A number of severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued in the region; they are expected to expire late on 22 June. Residual disruptions should be anticipated once the weather becomes less adverse due to the resultant backlog of flights. Clients intending to transit the aforementioned airports, or others in the affected region, are advised to contact their travel provider or airline directly for further information on the status of flights.

BELGIUM (GENERAL STRIKE) - Several trade unions, including FGTB, have called for a countrywide general strike in Belgium, on 24 June. The strike has been called with regard to proposed social reform policies and labour concerns. The strike is set to cause disruptions to private and public sector services, including transportation services. Associated demonstrations are also expected in major urban cities, including the capital, Brussels on the day; details regarding these are currently unavailable. The action is set to be well observed, while attendance at the associated demonstrations is expected to be high. Although these events are anticipated to conclude peacefully, they are susceptible to violence due to disruptive elements infiltrating otherwise peaceful gatherings. The industrial action is expected result in countrywide service disruptions, particularly to public transport; localised travel disruptions are anticipated in the vicinity of associated demonstrations. Clients are advised to monitor local media for information on the upcoming strike action and expected countrywide service disruptions. Clients are also advised to avoid any demonstrations and any associated large street gatherings as precaution.

GREECE (ATHENS - TRAVEL DISRUPTIONS) - Travel disruptions are expected in Greece's capital, Athens, on 22 and 23 June, due to Olympic Day events. Temporary road closures are expected to affect Vassileos Georgiou A, Vassilissis Amalias, Syngrou, Athanasios Diakos and Kallirois Syngrou Avenues. Road closures are anticipated between 17:00 local time and 19:30 on the affected days. Road closures and travel disruptions should be expected in the vicinity of all related events. Clients in Athens on 22 and 23 June are advised to anticipate and plan for possible travel delays. Clients are further advised to seek other means of transport on the affected days as the road closures are likely to have knock-on effects for road traffic in the surrounding areas.

TAIWAN (HUALIEN COUNTY - COMMERCIAL RAIL INCIDENT) - Rail service delays are expected due to a derailed train in Taiwan's Hualien county on the east coast on 22 June. Reports indicate that injuries have occurred as a result of the incident. Three carriages of the Taiwan Railways train, which was travelling from the city of Kaohsiung, derailed. The exact location of the derailment is unclear. Emergency services are on the scene. Disruptions along the affected rail route should be anticipated. Additionally, an increased demand for alternative modes of transport should also be expected over the near-term. Persons intending to travel along the affected routes in the near-term should check the status of services with their travel provider and monitor local media for updates.

UZBEKISTAN (TASHKENT - SUMMIT MEETING) - (Update) Additional security measures have been implemented in Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent, ahead of a major summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which will be held at the Palace of International Forums, next to Amir Timur Square, on 23 and 24 June. In addition, Tashkent International Airport will be closed on 24 June, between 13:00 and 18:00 local time, as delegates and heads of state arrive. The SCO is a regional security and economic organisation made up of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Pakistan and India are expected to join the SCO during the summit. In addition, travel disruptions at a number of border crossings continue to be reported, and are likely to persist for the duration of the conference. Increased security measures, including police checkpoints and random identification checks, are expected in Tashkent for the duration of the summit, particularly in the vicinity of the Palace of International Forums, where the majority of events are set to take place. Given the prominence of the summit, which is set to take place amid heightened tensions surrounding terrorism and perceived levels of increased Islamic radicalisation in the wider region, the possibility of interest groups using the event as a convenient platform to voice their grievances cannot be discounted. As a result of these heightened security measures, travel delays are possible. Persons in Tashkent during the aforementioned period are advised to anticipate possible travel disruptions throughout the city and should plan accordingly. Clients are advised to avoid all street gatherings due to the possibility of civil unrest.

ARMENIA (YEREVAN, VAGHARSHAPAT, GYUMRI, KHOR VIRAP - PAPAL VISIT) - Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, is scheduled to visit Armenia from 24 to 26 June. The pontiff is set to arrive at Zvartnots International Airport, located in the capital, Yerevan, at 15:00 local time on 24 June, and will then travel to the nearby city of Vagharshapat, followed by official proceedings in Yerevan later that day. The pope will visit the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial Complex in the capital, followed by travel to the city of Gyumri early on 25 June, before returning to Yerevan later in the day for a prayer in Republic Square, which is expected to be attended by approximately 50,000 people. Early on 26 June, the pope will again visit Vagharshapat, followed by a visit to Khor Virap, near the Turkish border. He will them depart for Italy's capital, Rome, at 18:30 local time, from Zvartnots International Airport. As a result of the visit, heightened security measures, including an increased security force presence and road closures, will be put in place. Although no specific threats have been made against Pope Francis's visit to Armenia; due to the number of people attending papal events and the increased security measures, localised traffic disruptions and increased demand for transport services should be expected on the day. It should be noted that the increased security measures are viewed as largely precautionary. Clients in Armenia should make allowances for increased travel times in the affected cities and at Zvartnots International Airport during the Pope's arrival and departure.

PAKISTAN (PUNJAB, AZAD KASHMIR & GILGIT-BALTISTAN - FLOODS) - Heavy rain and associated disruptions have been reported across large parts of Pakistan's Punjab province since 21 June, including in Punjab's administrative capital, Lahore. In the city, several low-lying areas have been inundated, resulting in road-based travel disruptions, while power outages have also been reported. Disruptions to flights at Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport have occurred. In addition, at least four people were killed in the city after the roof of their house collapsed due to the heavy rain. Heavy rain has also occurred in the northern regions of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, although further information on the impact thereof is limited at present. The heavy rains coincide with Pakistan's annual seasonal monsoon period, which generally runs from June to September, but can carry on into early October. According to a statement by the Pakistan Meteorological Department, this year's monsoon season is expected to bring heavier than usual rains; as such, further heavy rain conducive to flooding will take place in the coming weeks. Resultant travel delays and disruptions to amenities such as water, electricity and telecommunications will likely accompany any flooding. It should be noted that there is an elevated risk of waterborne diseases, particularly diarrhoea, in flood-affected areas. Persons currently in areas affected by the power outages should anticipate disruptions to essential services, including transport and telecommunications. Clients are advised to plan accordingly and monitor local media sources for updates and advisories. In addition, due to a number of ongoing security concerns, all non-essential travel to Punjab province, as well as Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, is advised against.

INDIA (MONSOON RAINS) - Monsoon rains have begun to impact large parts of India in recent days. In Bihar state, over 60 people have been killed as a result of lightning strikes associated with thunderstorms. In Jammu and Kashmir state, the highway that connects the capital, Srinagar, with the rest of the country, the NH44 (the old NH1A), was closed by heavy rain and landslides on 21 June. In Uttarakhand state, rain has resulted in disruptions to land-based travel; the situation there has been exacerbated by the mountainous geography of the state, as well as deforestation in the area. More generally, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy to very heavy rain in the aforementioned states, as well as in West Bengal, Sikkim, northern Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya and Kerala states. Heavy rainfall is expected in parts of east Uttar Pradesh, Konkan, Goa and coastal Karnataka. The heavy rains coincide with the start of India's annual seasonal monsoon period, which generally runs from June and September, but can carry on into early October. According to a previous statement by the Pakistan Meteorological Department, this year's monsoon season is expected to bring heavier than usual rains; as such, further heavy rain conducive to flooding are likely to take place in the coming weeks. Resultant travel delays and disruptions to amenities such as water, electricity and telecommunications will likely accompany any flooding. It should be noted that there is an elevated risk of waterborne diseases, particularly diarrhoea, in flood-affected areas. Persons currently in impacted areas should anticipate disruptions to essential services, including transport and telecommunications. Clients are advised to plan accordingly and to monitor local media sources for updates and advisories.

NIGERIA (NIGER RIVER BASIN - FLOODING/TRAVEL DISRUPTIONS) - On 21 June, Nigeria's National Orientation Agency (NOA) issued an alert regarding an imminent threat of flooding in the Niger River basin. Although areas located along the banks of the Niger and Benue rivers are considered to be at a particularly elevated risk of flooding, urban areas near their tributaries may also experience flooding. Accordingly, people living in these areas have been advised to relocate as a preventative measure. It should be noted that, as the basin extends across 20 states, thousands of people may potentially be affected by flooding. The warning issued by the NOA comes amid Nigeria's annual rainy season, which generally runs from June to September. These seasonal rains often result in flooding, as well as resultant disruptions to utility and travel services in affected areas. Areas located along river banks are generally at an elevated risk of flooding; moreover, poor drainage infrastructure in urban areas tends to exacerbate flood conditions. It should be noted that significant rainfall since 20 June has already triggered flooding, as well as associated disruptions, in the capital, Lagos, and parts of the central Nasarawa state. Moreover, at least three flood-related fatalities were recorded in Nasarawa's Lafia local government area on 21 June. Further incidents of flooding are likely in the near-term. Persons operating in Nigeria in the near-term are advised to monitor local media for flooding updates and associated advisories from the authorities. Caution is advised in low-lying areas and elevated regions due to the respective risks of flooding and landslides. Travellers should also take precautions against becoming affected by flood-related diseases.

SOUTH AFRICA (MABOPANE, PRETORIA - CIVIL UNREST) - (Update) According to incoming reports, police have fired rubber bullets into crowds of looting protesters in Pretoria's Mabopane township, in South Africa, on 22 June. The current unrest is believed to be related to mass protests that took place in the city's central business district (CBD) on 21 June. Although there have been no reports of any significant clashes as yet, tensions remain heightened in the area and the situation remains subject to deterioration. Significant and disruptive unrest was reported in Pretoria's CBD on 21 June, after the ruling African National Congress (ANC) announced that Thoko Didiza would be their mayoral candidate for the country's 3 August municipal elections. Residents from a number of townships in and around the city staged mass protests against Didiza's nomination, asserting that incumbent mayor, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, should retain the position. Given the emotive nature of the aforementioned protests, there is a credible risk of violence at all related gatherings. Such unrest may therefore pose an indiscriminate risk to bystanders. Persons currently operating in Pretoria are advised to avoid the affected area until the situation has stabilised. Local media should be monitored for updates on the protest action, as well as related advisories from the authorities. Clients are further advised to avoid all demonstrations and large street gatherings as a standard precaution.

NIGERIA (NIGER DELTA - CONFLICT) - The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has denied reports that it has entered into a 30-day ceasefire with the government. The ceasefire announcement was made on 21 June by at least two government officials. Elsewhere, a new Niger Delta militant group, the Niger Delta Red Squad (NDRS), has reportedly emerged in Imo state. The group has claimed recent attacks against pipelines managed by Elf Oil Company in the Awarra area of the state and has threatened further attacks, including against Shell pipelines in the Oguta area. It has also warned oil companies to evacuate all their workers. The NDA is a non-state armed group which has been implicated in or claimed numerous attacks against oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta in 2016. The most recent associated attack was reported on 16 June in the Oruk Anam area in Akwa Ibom state. The NDA is demanding a greater share of the oil income generated by the government in the Niger Delta and has threatened to continue agitating until these demands are met. NDA activity has been most pronounced in Bayelsa and Delta states, where it's largely non-fatal sabotage operations have been reported. The NDA is one of several armed groups operating in the Niger Delta and new groups, such as the NDRS, periodically emerge to challenge the oil and gas industry and the government. Many of these armed factions are thought to be linked to or influenced by local political elites and interests who are vying for a greater share of income generated from the oil and gas industry. There are also various criminal organisations, including cults, which operate extensively across the Niger Delta and contribute to the region's insecurity and instability. Clients are advised against all travel to the states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta and Rivers, and against all non-essential travel to the states of Edo, Imo and Abia. Persons operating in the Niger Delta, particularly in the oil-sector industry, should review all existing security measures with their on-site security teams or security providers. Crisis management plans should be updated and regularly reviewed. Travel outside of primary cities or secure compounds should be done with a close protection officer and during the day only. Foreign nationals should maintain a generally low public profile.

JORDAN (IRBID & MAFRAQ GOVERNORATES - BORDER SECURITY) - (Update) The authorities in Jordan have declared the country's northern and north eastern borders with Syria as a closed military zone. Vehicles or individuals wishing to travel across the shared border will have to coordinate their movement with the authorities prior to arrival. The Jordanian authorities have also suspended humanitarian operations in parts of this area. The developments follow a 21 June suicide car bombing in the vicinity of Rukban, located near a refugee camp, and the shared border with Syria and Iraq, which left six Jordanian security force personnel dead and 14 wounded. The attack on 21 June is one of the most severe in Jordan in recent years. The authorities are likely to respond by extending an already heightened security alert status across the shared border with Syria, and in cities and towns across the country, over the near-term. Additional checkpoints and patrols should also be anticipated on roads leading from the country's international borders with Syria and Iraq to the interior. The low number of attacks in Jordan in recent years is viewed as a consequence of the country's relative stability and elevated counterterrorism capability; however, the likelihood of an increase in attempted and actual attacks in the coming months is high. Militants in Syria and Iraq, specifically the Islamic State (IS), are losing territory due to offensives by various groups. Militants may seek to retaliate with attacks in Syria and Iraq and neighbouring countries, including Jordan. There are also persistent concerns that hundreds of Jordanians, who are fighting with non-state armed groups in Syria, may return over the medium term. Heightened caution is advised in the immediate vicinity of the shared borders with Syria and Iraq. Clients intending to travel to areas near the shared border with Syria are advised to contact the local authorities prior to departure. Travellers should also ensure that they travel with the correct and up-to-date travel and identity documents, to facilitate movement through checkpoints. Clients across Jordan should exercise a generally elevated level of personal security awareness and should, in conjunction with their security provider, monitor local security developments closely.

MEXICO (PROTEST) - Medical professionals in Mexico are anticipated to launch a protest action on 22 June, in opposition to the deadly clashes reported in Oaxaca state on 19 June, amid ongoing National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) protests. The protest is set to be well observed, as the group #YoSoyMedico17, which is comprised of medical professionals from all fields, has been joined by more than 200,000 physicians opposing President Pena Nieto's health care reform. The doctors' protest is set to join the ongoing teachers' national general strike. The medical professionals' protest comes amid heightened tensions in the country, following deadly clashes between protesters and security forces on 18 and 19 June. A government-led, heavy-handed crackdown on the striking Mexican teachers degenerated into violence, leaving at least eight dead and many security force members and protesters injured in the southern state of Oaxaca. The doctors have condemned the government's role in the incident. The recent occurrences of violence during protests in the country have also drawn widespread condemnation from many stakeholders, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The incident has also served to hinder or at least compromise possible negotiations between the CNTE and authorities. As such, further protests, with credible risks of violence and elevated security presences, are likely in the near-term. Furthermore, road blockades and vandalism have been reported during recent protests; therefore the threat of further such tactics is credible. All street protests and concentrations of security forces should be avoided as a standard precaution. Furthermore, 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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