Philippines: (Update) At least one person has been killed and several more wounded after a bomb exploded in Cotabato City on 2 August. It is believed a bomb was placed on a motorcycle that had been parked in front of a shop and then detonated remotely. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, although it can most likely be attributed to any one of a number of Islamist separatist groups that operate in the region. This incident comes despite an increase in security in the southern Mindanao region, in which Cotabato is located, in response to a heightened threat of attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which began on 1 August. Due to this and a number of ongoing security concerns, clients are advised against all travel to Mindanao, including the Sulu Archipelago. Clients currently in the region are advised to maintain a low profile, implement robust security protocols and report any suspicious people, packages or activity to the police immediately. In addition, clients in Muslim majority communities and countries are advised to respect local cultural and religious sensibilities during this period and should refrain from eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours. Particular care should be exercised in or near religious sites and in rural areas. ——From Travel Alert.

Thailand: (Update) Meteorological authorities have extended a severe weather warning for large parts of the north and north east of the country until at least 3 August. Authorities have warned of the likelihood of heavy rain and accompanying possibility of flooding in low-lying areas of the provinces of Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Tak, Kampaengphet, Phichit, Nakhonsawan, Uthai Thani, Sukhothai, Pitsanulok, Petchabun, Uttaradit, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Surin, Buri Ram, Khon Kaen, Mahasarakham, Roi Et, Kalasin, Sakon Nakhon, Nakon Phanom, Mukdahan, Udon Thani, Nongkhai, Bungkan, Lei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Ubon Ratchathani, Amnatcharoen, Si Sa Ket, and Yasothon. In the Phrae, Chiang Mai, Nan, Lamphun, Lampang, Mae Hong Son, Uttaradit, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Phanom, Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Sakon Nakhon and Bung Kan provinces, localised flooding and travel disruptions have already been reported, with the Yom, Nan, Wang rivers having burst their banks. Clients in the affected provinces are advised to exercise caution, avoid low-lying areas such as rivers, dams and lakes due to the risk of flooding, and mountainous and hilly regions due to the risk of landslides. In addition, clients are advised to monitor local media for updates and advisories from authorities. ——From Travel Alert.

Philippines: The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) suspended operations of all Trans-Asia Shipping Lines Incorporated vessels on 1 August due to safety concerns following the sinking of a ferry on 31 July. There were no casualties as a result of the sinking as all 107 passengers and 4 crew were safely evacuated when the vessel began to list severely whilst making its way between Cebu City and Iloilo. However, the incident has raised concerns over the seaworthiness of the vessels operated by Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, and its operating licence has been suspended pending further safety inspections of its vessels. It is unclear when Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, which operates primarily in the Visayas and Mindanao regions of the country, will begin operations again. Clients currently in the country who are planning to travel on ferries operated by Trans-Asia Shipping Lines are advised to contact their travel provider for updates regarding the status of their services and plan accordingly. ——From Travel Alert.

Philippines: Days of heavy monsoon rains over Luzon have resulted in widespread flooding in the capital, Manila. According to officials in the city, approximately 35 percent of the Manila metro area has been inundated by floodwaters, forcing the closure of government offices and many schools as well as causing severe travel disruptions. Worst affected in the Manila metro area is Marikina City. While heavy rain is common on Luzon during the monsoon season, the passing of Tropical Storm Muifa has severely exacerbated conditions. Further rain is likely in the coming days and weeks, and may lead to additional flooding in Manila and Luzon in general. Clients are advised to exercise caution and avoid low-lying areas such as rivers, dams and lakes due the risk of flooding and hilly and mountainous regions due to the risk of landslides. Clients are further advised to monitor local media for updates and advisories from authorities.. ——From Travel Alert.

Laos: Low-lying areas in the central provinces of Khammuan, Borikhamxay and Savannakhet have been identified by authorities as being at the risk of flooding. Water levels have risen in several rivers, as a result of the heavy rain in the region caused by Tropical Storm Nock-Ten, in recent days. Many branches of the Mekong river have already reached dangerous levels in several districts of Khammuan province, while in other central areas the Xebangfay, Hinboun, Xe and Pakan rivers have also exceeded safe levels, resulting in inundated roads and a number of bridges being washed away. In addition, parts of the capital, Vientiane, have also experienced localised flooding in recent days, with further flooding likely. Large parts of Laos receive heavy rainfall between May and November, primarily as a result of the monsoon season. Due to its rugged mountainous landscape, flash flooding and landslides are also common during this period. Clients in the central provinces, as well as in Vientiane, are advised to exercise caution, anticipate travel delays and possible disruptions to services such as electricity and telecommunications. Clients are also advised to monitor local media for updates and advisories from authorities. ——From Travel Alert.

Australia: On 3 August, police in Sydney closed several streets in the Mosman area in the north of the city, following the discovery of an alleged explosive device. Police responded to a call reporting that an intruder in a ski mask gained entry to a house on Burrawong Avenue. It subsequently appears that the intruder strapped an explosive device around the neck of a female occupant. The reported discovery of an accompanying ransom note at the site suggests that the incident is an extortion attempt of a criminal nature and not terrorism-related. Surrounding residences have been evacuated and bomb disposal units are attempting to defuse the device. Clients are advised to anticipate localised traffic disruption in the Mosman suburb at this time. ——From Travel Alert.

Australia: (Update) The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has extended Tiger Airways Australia's flight suspension until at least 5 August, as a court hearing between CASA and Tiger Airways originally scheduled for 3 August was postponed. CASA first grounded the carrier's flights on 1 July, after finding its safety standards insufficient. CASA subsequently imposed conditions on the airline's operator's certificate in an effort to improve standards. Since then, the airline has twice flown below the minimum safe altitude level, again raising safety concerns, and leading to the subsequent grounding of flights. Negotiations between CASA and Tiger Airways are ongoing; however, further extensions of the suspension cannot be ruled out and travellers are advised to make alternate travel arrangements where possible. Due to the extended suspension, there is likely to be an increased demand on alternative airlines offering domestic and regional flight services. Clients who have booked tickets with Tiger Airways are advised to contact the airline or their travel provider directly for further information on the status of their flight(s). ——From Travel Alert.

Chile: (Update) Various unions representing the interests of students in Chile are set to hold a protest rally in the capital, Santiago, on 4 August. The rally, which is scheduled to commence at the city's Baquedano Square and pass through Alameda Avenue to the Education Ministry, forms part of an ongoing protest campaign by student groups in the country who are demanding significant reforms within Chile's education sector. The protest rally will be followed up by a general countrywide strike, which is scheduled to take place on 9 August. Significant protests against education privatisation and exclusive policies began in April, and have affected a number of cities countrywide, including Santiago, Concepcion and Talca. Protesters are calling for the government to provide greater financial support to public education institutions, revise the education budget, restructure the grant system, and alter teacher training methods, among other demands. As the issues at the core of the unrest remain unresolved, further protests are likely, and the possibility of violence at these gatherings cannot be ruled out. Clients are advised to monitor local media for information pertaining to protests and should avoid these as a precaution against violent civil unrest. Travel disruptions are also likely in the affected areas during protest action. ——From Travel Alert.

Pakistan: (Update) More than 50 people have been killed since 30 July, as a result of political and ethnically motivated violence in Pakistan's port city of Karachi. In the most recent developments, authorities cordoned off several flashpoint areas of the city on the evening of 3 August as a means of stemming the violence. Security checkpoints, random identification checks, and vehicle searches have also been implemented in these areas. Politically motivated violence in Karachi has escalated significantly since 5 July, following an alleged assassination attempt by suspected supporters of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) against a rival Awami National Party (ANP) official. Much of the violence, which claimed the lives of more than 300 people in July alone, is ethnic in nature, with Mujahirs, who largely support the MQM, and Pashtuns, who support the ANP, clashing frequently. However, some of the violence has also been communal in nature, primarily split along Sunni-Shiite lines. Areas which continue to be worst affected include the Orangi Town, Banaras, Qasba Colony, Katti Pahari and Ali Garh areas of the city, where authorities have imposed curfews, issued shoot-on-sight advisories, and deployed hundreds of additional security personnel as a means of quelling the violence. However, despite these measures, violence has continued, and there are increasing reports suggesting that criminal elements and Islamist extremist groups are taking advantage of the deteriorating security situation. Clients are advised against all travel to Pakistan, including Karachi, due to various security concerns. Persons currently in the city are advised to maintain a low profile and avoid all protests and gatherings. Clients are further advised to defer all travel to the Orangi Town, Banaras, Qasba Colony, Katti Pahari and Ali Garh areas. ——From Travel Alert.

Japan: (Update) Tropical Storm Muifa is currently affecting Okinawa as a Category 2 typhoon, bringing high winds and heavy rains to the area. Flights to and from Okinawa have been cancelled and maritime authorities have ordered vessels, particularly smaller ones, to remain at port. Flooding in low-lying areas, landslides in mountainous regions and coastal storm surges are possible. In addition, disruptions to road and rail transport as well as to utilities (water and electricity) are also possible. Travellers are advised to exercise caution and monitor local media for updates and to follow the advisories of the local authorities. ——From Travel Alert.

Russia: A 6.3 magnitude earthquake has been reported in Sakhalinskaya oblast, located 230km south of Severo-Kuril'sk in the Kuril Islands. There have been no immediate reports of damage or casualties and a tsunami warning has not been issued. Clients currently in the region are advised to monitor local news media and emergency broadcast channels for possible updates and advisories from the authorities. Travellers should also note that aftershocks are possible in the short-term. ——From Travel Alert.

China: More than 13,000 residents of Dazhou, Sichuan province, have been evacuated after rising flood waters destroyed an estimated 2,000 commercial and residential properties in the city. The floods, which have been triggered by seasonal rains in the region, have also inundated both major and secondary roadways in Dazhou, in addition to disrupting telecommunication, water and electricity supplies in the city. Southern China is currently experiencing its rainy season, which generally occurs between May and September. The country's Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hubei, Guangdong, Sichuan, Shaanxi and Yunnan provinces, as well as the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the municipality of Chongqing, have been the worst affected, where hundreds of people have been killed and over 1.5 million displaced by a combination of flooding and landslides. Clients currently in the aforementioned provinces are advised to avoid low-lying, flood-prone regions and should monitor local news for possible flood warnings and emergency broadcasts. Furthermore, it is advisable that travel to areas in close proximity to storm drains, rivers, drainage channels and saturated hillsides be avoided, as these will generally be at greatest risk of further flooding and landslides. Clients are advised to anticipate localised travel delays and disruptions to amenities such as electricity and telecommunications. ——From Travel Alert.

Nepal: Heavy rain has caused widespread flooding in the municipality of Nepalgunj and has inundated most major and secondary roadways in the Bulbuliya, Ganeshpur, Koreanpur, Phultekra, Gagangunj, Gharbaritole and Bhurkiti Nagar areas, while communities residing in the municipality's Holiya, Matehiya, Gangapur, Nairenapur and Laxmanpur VDC districts are considered to be at high risk of flooding as a result of the Rapti river's rising water levels. The heavy rains in Nepal coincide with the country's annual monsoon season, which generally extends from June to September. As such, further rainfall conducive to flooding is possible in the coming months. Clients in Nepal are advised to defer travel to the affected areas. Furthermore, caution is advised in low-lying areas, particularly near rivers, and in mountainous regions due to the threat of landslides. Additionally, travel to locales in close proximity to storm drains, rivers, drainage channels and saturated hillsides should be avoided, as these will generally be at greatest risk of further flooding and landslides. ——From Travel Alert.

China: (Update) More than 250,000 people have been evacuated in the eastern provinces of Zhejiang and Fujian ahead of Tropical Storm Muifa. Authorities in Zhejiang province evacuated as many as 206,664 residents from low-lying coastal areas while another 80,400 people were evacuated in Fujian province. Tropical Storm Muifa is expected to make landfall over Shandong province as a Category 2 typhoon on 8 August. Several other precautionary measures have been taken by authorities, including the cancellation flights in and out of Shanghai, Wenzhou and Hangzhou. Further disruptions to air, maritime, road and rail transport, as well as to utilities (water and electricity), should be expected. Clients are advised to monitor local media for updates and to follow the advisories of the local authorities. Clients should also note that China experiences typhoons from May to December and further storms are likely in the coming months. ——From Travel Alert.

New Caledonia: Security has been heightened and tensions remain high on the island of Mare in New Caledonia after four people were killed and a further 23 people injured in violent protests on 6 August. Protesters had gathered at Mare Airport to demonstrate against recent domestic airfare increases imposed by Air Caledonie when they clashed with residents from the Ghuama district of the island, who attempted to disperse the protesters. Protesters have reportedly blockaded several airports in the archipelago in recent days; although these demonstrations have been largely peaceful, travel disruptions have been reported. As a result of the ongoing protests, the airline has suspended flights to the islands of Mare, Lifou and Ile des Pins until 10 August. Clients in or intending to travel to New Caledonia, are advised that tensions are high and the situation remains unresolved, as such, further demonstrations cannot be discounted in the short-term and all large gatherings should be avoided as a precaution. Travellers are further advised to anticipate a heightened security presence on the island of Mare due to the recent unrest. Clients who have booked or who intend on booking with Air Caledonie are advised to contact the airline or their travel provider directly for further information on the status of their flight(s).——From Travel Alert

South Korea: Tropical Storm Muifa is due to affect western parts of the country within the next 12 hours. Flooding in low-lying areas, landslides in mountainous regions and coastal storm surges are possible. Disruptions to air, maritime, road and rail transport, as well as to utilities (water and electricity), should be expected. Clients are advised to monitor local media for updates and to follow the advisories of the local authorities. Clients should note that South Korea generally experiences typhoons between July and August and further storms are likely in the coming weeks. ——From Travel Alert.

Pakistan: An outbreak of cholera has left more than 300 people infected in Pakistan's north western Khyber Agency. The Malagori area has been worst affected, with an estimated 200 people confirmed to be infected with the waterborne disease. Other areas within the Kyhber Agency where cholera infections have been detected include the districts of Pased Khel, Khuga Khel and Zekha Khel. Due to various security concerns, clients are advised against all travel to Pakistan. Clients currently in the Khyber Agency are advised to exercise good hygiene protocols and consume water that has been properly purified, which will significantly mitigate one's chances of contracting the disease. Furthermore, clients should also refrain from buying food and beverages sold by street vendors and avoid drinking unpasteurised milk as such foodstuffs are considered to be at an elevated risk of being contaminated with the Vibrio cholerae bacterium. ——From Travel Alert.

Australia: Strike action by drivers of the Sunbus service in Sunshine Coast in Queensland is set to affect bus services on 9 and 10, and possibly 11 August in an ongoing pay dispute. There will be no services on 9 August and services will only begin between 08:00 and 09:00 on 10 August. Further strike action is also likely on 11 August if talks between the Transport Workers Union, which represents the drivers, and Sunbus break down. The dispute is over a ban on drivers doing overtime that was instituted by Sunbus in order to cut operating costs. Spokespeople representing the drivers have indicated that if no solution is found during talks, there is the possibility that industrial action could last for up to two weeks; however, it is unclear at this stage how long it will continue for. Clients in Sunshine Coast are advised to anticipate disruptions to bus services in the short-term and an increase in demand for other forms of public transport until the industrial action is over. Clients are further advised to seek alternative, private means of transport where possible. ——From Travel Alert.

Thailand: An Indian national has died and another has been hospitalised after both consumed spiked drinks in the capital, Bangkok. The men were reportedly offered the drinks by a group of Thai women, and fell unconscious soon after consuming the drinks. Following this, the women robbed them of their valuables and fled the scene. As a result of the drink spiking, one of the Indian nationals died, while the other remains hospitalised. While Thailand has a generally low crime rate, incidents of this kind do occur sporadically, particularly in Bangkok's Patpong and Nana Plaza areas. Clients in Thailand are advised to exercise heightened situational awareness at all times and should never accept drinks from strangers or leave drinks unattended. ——From Travel Alert.

Australia: Major flood warnings have been issued on 9 August due to rising water levels in the South Esk and Macquarie rivers near Launceston and Ross, in Tasmania. Minor flood warnings are also in place for the Jordan and North Esk rivers, and while heavy rains are beginning to ease, water levels in the aforementioned rivers continue to rise. Several roads in the area have been closed and a number of bridges have been inundated by rising water levels, resulting in localised travel delays. Clients in the affected areas are advised to exercise caution, avoid low lying areas due to the risk of flash flooding and monitor local media for updates and advisories from authorities.——From Travel Alert.

Indonesia: Authorities have raised the alert level for Mount Karangetang, located on Siau island, as the volcanic mountain has experienced increased activity since 4 August. At least 600 people residing in villages around Mount Karangetang have been evacuated since the volcano experienced renewed activity. The volcano is one of the most active in Indonesia and erupts on a regular basis. An eruption in August 2010 claimed the lives of at least four people. Travellers on Siau are advised to defer travel to Mount Karangetang at this time and should monitor local media for updates and advisories from authorities. Travellers should also anticipate possible localised travel delays should the eruptions continue. ——From Travel Alert.

Comoros: At least 30 people have been killed after a vessel carrying over 100 passengers sank south of Grand Comore late on 8 August; approximately 50 people have been rescued so far. The vessel was en route from Grand Comore to the island of Anjouan when the incident occurred. The death toll is expected to increase further as several people remain missing. It is unclear at this stage what caused the accident, although it is thought that overloading could be responsible. Accidents of this kind are a regular occurrence in the Comoros, where lax safety laws, overcrowding and poor maintenance are commonplace. Clients in the Comoros planning to use sea transport are advised to use only reliable operators and not board any vessel that appears to be unseaworthy or lacking in adequate safety equipment. ——From Travel Alert.

South Korea: North Korea reportedly fired three artillery shells near the Northern Limit Line off South Korea's Yeonpyeong island (Yellow Sea) on 10 August. The South Korean military responded to the fire with a similar burst towards North Korea. There have been no reported casualties or damage during the artillery exchange and shells are believed to have landed in the ocean. The incident highlights the ongoing insecurity along the shared North and South Korea border where periodic exchanges of fire have been reported in the past. In recent years tensions between the two countries have been elevated. Since 2008 South Korea has taken a hardline approach to the north. In November 2010, tensions escalated significantly when the North Korean military fired scores of shells at Yeonpyeong island, leaving several people dead and causing significant infrastructural damage. Further exchanges of artillery and gunfire, particularly in the vicinity of the shared border, are likely in the short-term. Persons in South Korea are advised to monitor developments closely. Persons intending to travel in the immediate vicinity of the border are advised to do so with recognised tour groups only. ——From Travel Alert.