ASIA

Bangladesh (Security threat level – 4): On 9 May 2019, jute mill workers in Khulna and Dhaka’s Demra district continue to observe a strike over unpaid wages for a fourth consecutive day. In Demra district, the workers blocked roads between 0900 and 1600 local time (0300 and 1000 UTC); in Khulna, workers also blocked roads for several hours. While the current protests have only involved workers from jute mills in Demra and Khulna, workers at all state-run mills are expected to begin a strike on 14 May if demands are not met. As part of the action, workers will go on strike and block roads between 1600 and 1900 local time every day.

North Korea (Security threat level – 3): At approximately 1630 local time (0430 UTC) on 9 May 2019, North Korea fired two suspected short-range missiles from a military base in the northwestern city of Kusong, located approximately 160 km (100 mi) from Pyongyang. The missiles reached an altitude of 50 km and flew approximately 420 km and 270 km respectively before falling into the East China Sea. The weapons test is North Korea’s second in less than a week.

AUSTRALASIA

Timor-Leste / Indonesia (Security threat levels – 3 / 4): According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, as of 0900 UTC on 9 May 2019, Tropical Cyclone Lili has formed in the Timor Sea approximately 475 km (295 mi) north-northwest of Darwin, Australia. At that time, the storm was moving south-southwest at approximately 10 kph (6 mph), and was generating maximum sustained winds of 65 kph with gusts up to 83 kph. The most recent forecasts predict that Tropical Cyclone Lili will shift toward Timore-Leste and will cross the country by 10 May. The storm is expected to bring heavy rains to Timor-Leste and Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province.

EUROPE

Germany (Security threat level – 3): At approximately 0730 local time (0530 UTC) on 9 May 2019, operations at Frankfurt Airport (EDDF/FRA) were temporarily suspended after a drone was sighted near the airport. Police officials dispatched a helicopter to investigate the sighting, but resumed normal operations at approximately 0815 local time after no additional drone sightings occurred. An airport spokesman stated that approximately 70 flights were canceled due to the disruption.

GOVERNMENT WARNINGS

Georgia (Security threat level – 3): On 8 May 2019, the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi issued a Demonstration Alert, which reads in part as follows:

Security threat levels range from 1 (Very Low) to 5 (Very High) and are determined using a comprehensive system that utilizes both qualitative and quantitative analysis. The primary factors used to determine a location’s security threat level are Armed Conflict, Crime, Demonstrations/Strikes, Ethnic/Sectarian Tensions, Graft/Corruption, Kidnapping, Political Instability, Government Restriction and Terrorism.