Incident description: Qantas Airways employees belonging to the Transport Workers Union of Australia (TWU) are set to embark on a strike on 20 September, from 05:00 local time. Four-hour work stoppages are expected at major airports throughout the country; baggage handlers and catering staff are expected to continue the strike beyond the set four-hour limit.

Analysis: The TWU decision to commence with the strike follows a breakdown in recent negotiations with the airline. Remuneration, working conditions, and increasing outsourcing of labour by Qantas are some of the aspects disputed by the union. While Qantas is likely to implement contingency plans during the 48-hour strike period, delays can be expected.

Advice: Client who booked tickets with Qantas, or intend to make use of the airline from 20 September onwards, are advised to contact the airline or their travel provider directly for information on the status of services. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: Tensions remain high in Bharatpur, located in India's north western Rajasthan state, where an ongoing land dispute has sparked violent clashes. At least nine people were killed on 14 September in the violent confrontations which occurred between members of the Meo and predominantly Gujjar communities, which are both vying for control of a piece of land in the village of Gopalgarh. The clashes were eventually dispersed following the intervention of security personnel who have since imposed a night-time curfew in Gopalgarh as a means of preventing any further outbreaks of civil unrest.

Analysis: Instances of civil unrest are common throughout India, including in Rajasthan. Protests over religious, political and social issues occur frequently and often turn violent. Such gatherings are sometimes planned and announced in advance, but may also occur with little or no warning.

Advice: Clients in Bharatpur are advised to exercise heightened security awareness and defer travel to Gopalgarh. Travel to the surrounding communities of Nagar, Seekri, and Pahari, which have also seen an increased security presence, should also be avoided. Clients are advised to avoid all related protests, demonstrations and public gatherings, and should strictly adhere to curfew conditions and/or other directives issued by the local authorities. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: A suicide bomber attacked a funeral procession in Jandol in the Lower Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, north western Pakistan, on 15 September. The blast left at least 26 people dead and wounded dozens more. The funeral was reportedly for a pro-government militiaman.

Analysis: The attack is not unusual for the area; terrorist bombings targeting civilian, security force and pro-government tribal elements are frequently reported. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the likely suspect at this time is the Tehreek-i-Taleban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP has claimed a number of high-profile attacks in the country in recent months, including a 13 September ambush on a school bus near Peshawar that left four children dead. Further attacks by the group are expected in the north western tribal areas and other parts of the country in the short-term.

Advice: Due to the ongoing insecurity in Pakistan, clients are advised against all travel to the country. Persons in or planning to travel to Pakistan are strongly advised to implement robust personal, residential and travel security measures. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: Widespread power outages have been reported throughout South Korea on 15 September, including in the capital, Seoul, and other major cities, resulting in localised travel disruptions. The outages are believed to be as a result of high electricity demand amid high temperatures, as well as reduced electricity generation capacity at the country's sole electricity company, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), due to power plant maintenance.

Analysis: Although KEPCO has issued assurances that electricity supply has been restored in most places, further outages are possible in the short-term as high temperatures and power plant maintenance are expected to continue.

Advice: Clients are advised to monitor developments closely and should anticipate localised travel disruptions in the event of further outages——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: Tropical Storm Maria is projected to affect the eastern parts of Canada's Newfoundland island as a category 1 hurricane within the next 30 hours, passing near to the city of St. John's.

Analysis: Flooding in low-lying areas and coastal storm surges are possible within the next 48 hours. Disruptions to air, maritime and road transport, as well as to utilities (water and electricity), should be expected.

Advice: Travellers are advised to monitor local media for updates and to follow the advisories of the local authorities. Travellers should also note that Canada experiences hurricanes between May and September and further storms are likely in the coming months. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: A 7.2 magnitude earthquake has been reported approximately 120km off Fiji's eastern Ndoi Island. There have been no reports of damages or fatalities, and no tsunami warning has been issued.

Advice: Clients in the affected region are advised to brace for aftershocks, and should monitor local media and emergency broadcast channels for updates and advisories from the local authorities. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: Security has been heightened in and around Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport where hundreds of protesting employees of the country's national air carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL), have gathered since 15:00 local time. Riot police and other specialised units have been deployed for the protest march, which will commence from Nichols Gate 2 area of the commerical hub and proceed to the nearby Our Lady of the Airways Parish, located on the corner of the MIA and Sucat roads.

Analysis: The rally, which is expected to conclude at 20:00 local time, has been organised by the PAL Employees Association (PALEA) over the fate of an estimated 2,600 employees of the airline company who may be retrenched following the enterprise's decision to suspend three of its non-core business initiatives.

Advice: Clients who will be travelling to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport are advised to avoid all protests and gatherings, and should anticipate possible travel delays en route to the commerical hub. While the protest rally is not expected to affect flights at the airport, clients are nonetheless advised to contact their respective airline and/or travel provider prior to departure. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: Thousands of protesters are expected to participate in a 'Day of Rage' protest, which is due to be held on Wall Street in New York City, on 17 September. The protest has been called by social groups to protest against the 'corrupt democratic process' and the use of corporate money in American elections.

Analysis: The 'Day of Rage' has been modelled on similar protests held in the Middle East, particularly Egypt and Tunisia. Security is expected to be significantly heightened in the immediate vicinity of the protest following reports of support for the protest by controversial hacker and activist group, Anti Sec; widespread violence is unlikely. Unconfirmed reports indicate that further protests in the financial heartlands of several other cities, including Los Angeles, Portland and Austin, may be planned for the near future.

Advice: Clients in New York City are advised to exercise caution if travelling in the vicinity of protests as civil unrest cannot be ruled out entirely. Localised travel delays and disruptions as a result of the protest are also possible. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: At least three people were killed and dozens more injured in three separate bombings in the Sungai Kolok district, located in Thailand's southern province of Narathiwat, on 16 September. The first blast was reportedly caused by a motorcycle bomb targeting an ethnic Chinese community organisation, with a second motorcycle bomb detonating at a nearby entertainment venue only minutes later. A third explosion, believed to have been caused by an explosive device inside a vehicle, took place near the popular Merlin Hotel, less than an hour after the first blast. One of the fatalities was reportedly a Malaysian tourist and several more Malaysians were injured in the attacks. The attacks followed hours after two people were killed when unknown gunmen attacked a mosque in the neighbouring Yala province.

Analysis: It is believed that the incidents are related to an ongoing violent separatist campaign in southern Thailand. The provinces of Narathiwat, Yala, Pattani and Songkhla have been plagued by ethnic and religious tensions for decades. These tensions stem from allegations of isolation and discrimination of Malay Muslims by Thailand's predominantly Buddhist government. The resulting Islamist insurgency in the region has been accompanied by regular bombings, shootings and skirmishes with Thai security forces, leaving over 4,500 people dead in recent years. The insurgency has gathered momentum since 2004, with a wave of coordinated attacks and bombings against military and police posts and schools across the region. Although foreign travellers have not commonly been directly targeted in attacks, the risk of being affected cannot be ruled out.

Advice: Clients are advised against all travel to the southern provinces of Narathiwat, Yala, Pattani and Songkhla due to the ongoing Islamist insurgency and the high threat from conflict and terrorism. Persons currently in the aforementioned areas should exercise heightened security awareness and implement robust security measures. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: A 6.6 magnitude earthquake has been reported off Iwate prefecture, located on the north western parts of Japan's Honshu island. There have been no reports of damages or fatalities, and no tsunami warning has been issued.

Advice: Clients in the affected region are advised to brace for aftershocks, and should monitor local media and emergency broadcast channels for updates and advisories from the local authorities. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: The transport union, Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON), plans to initiate a countrywide transport sector strike and street protests in the Philippines on 19 September over high fuel prices. The strike and protest action is expected to adversely affect the capital, Manila, as well as Cagayan De Oro, Butuan, Ozamis, Zamboanga, Davao, Tacloban, Baguio, Cabanatuan, Malolos and Lipa. Protests over high fuel prices are also expected to be led by various labour groups in Davao and by the Transport of Mindanao for Solidarity, Independence and Nationalism in the southern Mindanao region. In addition to the PISTON-led protests in Cagayan De Oro, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas also plans to hold public protests.

Analysis: The strike action and associated protests are expected to cause some disruption across the country; however, it should be noted that a number of other transport groups, including Pasang Masda, ACTO, Fejodap, Altodap and LTOP, have stated that they will not participate in the forthcoming protest. Clients should note that there is a threat of low-level confrontations between protesters and police on 19 September, particularly if demonstrators attempt to block roadways or prevent other public transport services from operating.

Advice: Clients intending to use public transport on 19 September are advised to contact the transport authorities prior to departure to check the status of services, or should use alternative forms of transportation on the day, such as car rental. Clients in the country should also exercise caution in public places, particularly in city and town centres, and should avoid all street demonstrations as a precaution. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: At least eight people have been injured in an explosion at a hospital in the city of Agra, located in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh. According to initial reports, the explosion may have been caused by a low-level explosive device which was left in the reception area of Jai Hospital on Sikandra Road. Security forces are currently attending to the scene.

Analysis: The blast is the latest such incident in India since a bomb attack on the Delhi High Court complex in New Delhi on 7 September, which left 15 people dead. There are a number a number of terrorist groups active in India and the country has suffered a number of terrorist incidents in recent years.

Advice: Clients currently in Agra are advised to avoid the vicinity of Jai Hospital at this time and should anticipate an appreciable increase in security measures throughout the city. The incident may also prompt authorities to implement security checkpoints and random identification checks in Agra. Clients are advised to carry certified copies of all relevant identification documents and to monitor local media for developments. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: A 6.8 magnitude earthquake has been reported approximately 64km north of Gangtok in the country's Sikkim state. There been no reports of damages or fatalities, and no tsunami warning has been issued.

Advice: Clients in the affected region are advised to brace for aftershocks, and should monitor local media and emergency broadcast channels for updates and advisories from authorities. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: At least five people have died in Nepal's Central and Eastern regions as a result of a 6.9 magnitude earthquake, which struck the state of Sikkim in neighbouring India earlier on 18 September. Three of the casualties occurred when a brick wall toppled outside of the British Embassy in the capital, Kathmandu. At least two strong aftershocks measuring above 4.0 in magnitude have followed the initial quake, which struck 64km north of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, located east of Nepal's Mechi Zone.

Analysis: As rescue efforts are ongoing, the death toll from the disaster is likely to rise in the coming hours. Concern has also been raised that heavy rainfall, and the ever-present risk of aftershocks, poses a significant threat to infrastructure that has already been damaged by the earlier earthquake.

Advice: Clients currently in affected areas of Nepal should anticipate further possible aftershocks and should avoid damaged buildings until they have been cleared by the authorities. Furthermore, clients are advised to monitor local media and emergency broadcast channels for updates and advisories from the local authorities. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: Tropical Storm Roke is expected to affect Japan's south western Kyushu and Shikoku islands within the next 24 hours. Other areas also likely to be affected include the Amami Islands, as well as the southern islands of the Kagoshima Prefecture; the storm, which is currently located east of the Okinawa Prefecture, is expected to continue to affect the prefecture over the next 24 hours. Heavy rainfall and storm surges along the coastal regions of the aforementioned regions are possible.

Analysis: Tropical storms occur regularly in Japan between the months of June and September. During this period, storm systems bring heavy rainfall, flooding and mudslides. Disruptions to air, maritime, road and rail transport, as well as to utilities, including water and electricity, should be expected.

Advice: Clients are advised to monitor local media for updates, and to follow the advisories of the local authorities. Further storms are also likely in the coming months. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: A suicide car bomb exploded outside of the home of a high ranking police officer in the Defence Housing Authority area of Pakistan's southern city of Karachi on 19 September leaving at least eight people dead. The police have been deployed to and several roads have been closed in the affected area.

Analysis: While there have been no claims of responsibility for the attack as yet, the likely culprits are the al-Qaeda aligned, Tehreek-i-Taleban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP, which is known to have a strong operational presence in the city, has carried out numerous suicide and car bomb attacks in the country in recent months. Unconfirmed media reports also indicate that the targeted police officer had also recently received death threats from the TTP.

Advice: Due to a number of security concerns clients are advised against all travel to Pakistan, including Karachi. Persons in or planning to travel to the country are advised to implement robust security measures at all times. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: Clashes erupted between the police and protesters in the capital, Dhaka on 19 September. Members of the Jamaat-e-Islami party clashed with police during an unsanctioned protest which lead to the use of rubber bullets and teargas by the country's security forces in an attempt to disperse the protests. As many as 50 people including police officers were injured in the violent confrontation and dozens of people have since been arrested.

Analysis: Members of the Jamaat-e-Islami party were protesting against the arrest of prominent leaders from the party alleged to have committed war crimes during the country's self-determination period of 1971. Protests, particularly unsanctioned protests are known to solicit a heavy-handed response from the country's security forces.

Advice: Clients in Dhaka are advised to avoid all political gatherings and demonstrations due to the possibility of violent civil unrest. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: At least five people were killed and 33 others injured in a bomb blast in Pakistan's northern city of Peshawar late on 19 September; the blast took place at the Nishtarabad Chowk market in central Peshawar and reportedly targeted music shops in the busy market area. Widespread damage to infrastructure was also reported and roads in the area remain closed.

Analysis: Attacks have been carried out in the Nishtarabad Chowk market area in the past, notably in 2007 and 2008. While no group has taken responsibility for the latest attack, the Tehreek-i-Taleban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for similar attacks on music shops in the past, including in Peshawar. Given the TTP's continuing history of targeting businesses in Peshawar, further attacks can be expected in the short to medium term.

Advice: Due to the ongoing insecurity in Pakistan, clients are advised against all travel to the country. Persons in or planning to travel to Pakistan, including Peshawar, are strongly advised to implement robust personal, residential and travel security measures. ——From Travel Alert.

Incident description: At least five people were killed and seven others wounded when an unidentified assailant detonated a grenade in a bar in the town of La Paz, located immediately north of the Philippines capital, Manila, during the evening of 20/21 September.

Analysis: There is a high threat of terrorism in the Philippines, stemming from leftist and Islamist extremists. However, the recent attack is unusual for the area, and a criminal motive, possibly a personal dispute, cannot be ruled out at this time. Attacks in La Paz are rarely reported and there does not appear to be a lingering threat in the town.

Advice: Clients in or planning to operate in the area are advised to monitor developments closely and should exercise heightened vigilance in public places. ——From Travel Alert.