Sydny Pepper

Avoid areas in and around Hessen State, Germany, until December 1 following unruly political protests.

Violent protests and counter protests organized in and around Giessen until December 1. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) held a convention to establish its new official youth organization, “Generation Germany” (GD). Counter protests have been reported since early November 29, with police employing water cannon and pepper spray to disperse several protests. Demonstrators reportedly used flares against the police in the Schlachthofstrasse area, as well as stopped and damaged vehicles in Hessen.

Expect exclusion zones near Mount Semeru in East Java, Indonesia over the coming days amid eruptions; anticipate residual travel disruptions. 

Level 4 alert at Mount Semeru after at least three eruptions were recorded on November 19, prompting the evacuation of around 1,000 nearby residents and climbers. Public activity is banned within 8 km of the crater and more than 20 km along the Besuk Kobokan corridor, with reports of several injuries and damage to a school building. Avalanches, earthquakes, further eruptions, ash fall, and lahars that could affect nearby roads, communities, and regional flights are expected.

Expect disruption in Athens, Greece and other urban centers on November 17 due to Polytechnic uprising anniversary marches.

A march to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the 1973 Athens Polytechnic uprising will take place on November 17. Participants will gather at Klafthmonos Square at 3:00 PM before marching to the US embassy. The events will be well attended with the possibility of turning unruly. Past events have attracted left-wing communists and anarchists, who have engaged police with Molotovs, fireworks, and homemade bombs. This poses incidental risk to bystanders.

Defer all non essential travel through October 30 as category 5 Hurricane Melissa moves across the Caribbean

Tropical Storm Melissa has intensified into a category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of up to 140 mph and is forecasted to pass over Kingston, Jamaica, before tracking towards southern Cuba on October 28 and the Bahamas on October 29. Airports in Jamaica are suspending operations, seaports are closed, and authorities warn of up to 30–40 inches of rainfall, storm surge, flash floods, and landslides across mountainous terrains.

A surge in tick-related diseases occurred in the Czech Republic as the tick season extended; exercise caution.

On October 18, health officials reported more than 2,000 cases  (4x the normal amount) of Lyme disease infections since late September. The tick season began roughly two months earlier than normal, and has since been prolonged with peak transmission running from early spring to late autumn. Risk remains low without tick exposure; Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics.

Student debt protesters will march on October 3 and 17, increasing security concerns

Student debt protesters, including supporters of the Economic Freedom Fighters party’s Youth Command (EFF YC), are organizing marches in Pretoria, South Africa, on October 3 and 17. Demonstrators will gather at 12:00 PM at the Department of Higher Education and Training before marching to the Department of Trade and Industry.The protest is expected to attract significant attendance and will be accompanied by heightened security measures

Airport workers to strike nationwide across South Korea from September 19 to October 9.

The National Airport Workers’ Union will strike at 15 airports, including Incheon, Gimpo, Busan, Jeju, and Daegu. The strike is expected to disrupt runway maintenance, firefighting operations, and electrical equipment management. Workers are demanding additional staffing, and better working conditions. Delays in departures and arrivals are expected to continue through the Chuseok holiday on October 6.

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