EasyJet flight attendants are set to strike country-wide from 12:00 to 16:00, Jan 18.

Govt declares a health alert in 4 of the country’s 15 regions as smoke from dozens of forest fires spreads. Thick smoke engulfing the Santiago capital, creating the worst air conditions in 7-years. Health alerts have also been declared in Valparaiso, Araucania and Maule. Santiago city officials urged residents to avoid exercising outdoors.

A state of emergency has been declared for nine counties in West Virginia as of Jan. 9 following a chemical leak into the Elk River after a hole was discovered in a 48,000 gallon storage tank containing 4-methylcyclohexane methanol at a factory outside the state capital, Charleston. It remains unclear how much of the chemical discharged into the river. Counties currently under the state of emergency include Boone, Cabell, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Putnam, and Roane. State authorities have imposed a water ban and instructed residents in the affected area not to drink, cook, bathe, or wash using tap water supplied by the West Virginia American Water company. Customers of the St. Albans and Cedar Grove Water companies in the area are not affected by the ban. Boiling will not make the water safe for contact, but it can be used in toilets and for fire emergencies.

Leaders of the CSC Transcom union have called for its members to strike at Belgian airports on Jan. 11. While the extent and nature of the industrial action are still unknown, the union represents passenger and baggage screeners, airport security workers, and navigation specialists.

Nearly 20,000 police and soldiers will be deployed in the Thai capital next week for the planned “shutdown” of Bangkok by demonstrators trying to overthrow the government, officials said on Wednesday. The protesters say they will occupy the capital from January 13 until they win their battle to topple the government. They plan to set up stages around the city, preventing officials from going to work and cutting off power and water to state buildings. Protesters plan to block the city’s key intersections for up to a month, and will gather outside the homes of key govt figures. Bangkok city authorities have instructed 146 schools to close on Monday because of the shutdown. Officials say the government is ready to declare a state of emergency if needed to deal with any unrest, following several outbreaks of street violence in which eight people, including a policeman, have been killed and hundreds wounded. Twenty foreign embassies on Silom, Sathorn and Wireless roads could be affected by the demonstrations. Transport Ministry advises commuters travelling into Bangkok on Monday, January 13, to allow several hours for travelling to their destination, as anti-government demonstrations are expected to create a gridlock on Bangkok’s roads and highways. The tourism sector in Bangkok is setting up Tourist Friends Centers in key locations across the city on high alert ahead of the possible shutdown. 150 volunteers will be put in charge, while taxi boats that have the capacity to carry 200-300 passengers, as well as buses and vans, will provide services in case of urgency. Pro-govt UDD Red Shirt activists planning to hold rallies at various locations in the country this weekend in a prelude to their stand against the anti-govt protesters’ planned Bangkok shutdown on January 13th. Travelers should use extreme caution and plan for disruptions. Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Hong Kong Airlines have reduced the number of flights to Bangkok from the middle of this month to avoid political conflict.

US embassy in Berlin issues a travel warning for Americans visiting Hamburg, following a police crackdown on leftist protesters. Americans advised to avoid demonstrations or public gatherings in the areas affected, which include the main nightlife district and also urged them to carry ID’s due to police stop and search powers.

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