On November 20, Mount Ulawun erupted on the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea, covering the surrounding area in ash. Evacuation notices are in place. Ashfall is affecting air quality in the immediate vicinity. While the eruption is classified as “Moderate,” flights at Hoskins Airport have been canceled and the eruption has the potential to continue.
On November 24, several major transit sectors in Italy will hold 24-hour strikes, resulting in widespread travel disruptions. Airport ground staff will strike throughout the country. In northern Italy, several labor unions will carry out a general strike affecting public and private transit services in Lombardy, Piemonte, and Liguria. Affiliated protests are likely during the strikes, with confirmed demonstrations set to take place at Genoa’s Stazione Marittima and Modena’s Piazza Grande at 9:00 AM.
On November 17, the Yellow Vests activist group will hold a series of protests in cities across France. All demonstrations will begin at 8:00 PM in the following locations: the Parvis du Sacre-Coeur in Paris; the Prefecture in Marseille; Place des Terreaux in Lyon; Place Pey Berland in Bordeaux; the Mairie in Lille; and Place Saint-Georges in Toulouse. The actions are commemorating the movement’s fifth anniversary and calling for economic reforms. Traffic disruptions and a police presence are expected near the demonstrations.
From November 8-9, nurses and other public healthcare workers will hold a major strike in Quebec Province, Canada. The strike will involve more than 80,000 healthcare professionals, and comes amidst an ongoing public workers’ strike involving thousands more government employees across multiple sectors. Affiliated demonstrations are likely to take place during the strike.
After an 18-hour hostage standoff at the Hamburg Airport, German police successfully arrested a 35-year-old man suspected of carrying a gun and explosives. The individual captured held hostage a four-year-old girl. Security forces successfully apprehended the individual with air travel resuming after over 100 flight cancellations and delays.
Storm Ciaran has unleashed strong winds and heavy rain across western Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom and France. Flooding and winds have caused closures and power outages throughout the English Channel, and left at least one dead in northern France. Flights in the Netherlands are cancelled, and Southeastern Rails in the U.K. have reported severe disruptions to its services.
On November 2, 15 tourists were injured during a rockslide in Guatapé, Colombia, specifically at the popular tourist destination Peñol de Guatapé. Six tourists were treated at the scene, and nine were transported to local hospitals. Peñol de Guatapé is a popular rock known for climbing and bouldering. This area will likely be closed to visitors until November 3, with minor traffic disruptions likely.
Several explosives detonated at the Zamra Convention Center in Kochi, India, on October 29. The bombs detonated during a Jehovah’s Witness meeting with over 2,000 participants. At least three are dead and over 50 are injured, and police have a suspect in custody. Heightened security is present around the center and in all urban areas, including New Delhi and Mumbai.
On October 25 at 2:30 AM, Hurricane Otis, an unprecedented category 5 hurricane, made landfall in Acapulco, Mexico causing severe flooding and landslides. Winds reached up to 165 MPH, knocking down communication lines and leaving many without power. The hurricane will persist northward into central Mexico.
Expect a heightened security presence in Rio de Janeiro following violent riots on October 23. Numerous roads were blocked off with burning buses and tires, and a rogue bus blocked Avenida Brasil, a major road through the city. Public bus company MobiRio temporarily shut down all of its lines in response. Large numbers of police officers are deployed to stop and prevent further unrest.