News Watch

As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 35 destinations: Afghanistan, Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, El Salvador, Eritrea, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Iraq, Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Republic of South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela and Yemen. 

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On May 2, heavy rains caused two massive landslides in the Badakhshan province of northern Afghanistan, killing more than 2,500 people and almost completely burying the town of Abi Barik. The first landslide hit in the morning, leading to a rescue effort by about 600 people from a neighboring town who became victims of the second landslide.

Rescue and recovery efforts were ended on May 4 after soft mud and inaccessibility hampered operations. Only about 350 bodies had been recovered...

A coal mine fire and collapse on May 13 near the city of Soma in western Turkey’s Manisa Province resulted in 301 deaths and 122 injuries. It was the worst mine accident in the country’s history.

Angered at what was perceived as a slow and unsympathetic government response, thousands of protesters gathered in Soma, Ankara, Izmir and Istanbul. On May 15, Turkish trade unions held a one-day solidarity strike. The incident has revived anger against the government, which endured large...

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At a train station in Guangzhou, southwestern China, on May 6, six people were injured in a knife attack by either two or four people. One suspect armed with a knife was shot by police.

In Urumqi in northeastern China on May 22, 31 people were killed and more than 90 injured when people in two cars drove through a market throwing explosives. Both cars crashed, one of which exploded, though it is unknown whether it was an intentional car bombing. 

Uyghur separatists have been...

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In May, the worst floods to strike Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia since rainfall measurements were first kept 120 years ago have left at least 35 people dead and caused the evacuations of hundreds of thousands. The death toll was expected to rise as waters receded. 

More than 2,000 landslides were reported in Bosnia, some in areas containing unexploded land mines left over from the Bosnian War. These areas had been mapped and well marked, but floodwaters have swept away signage...

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Two bombs were detonated in the central Nigerian city of Jos on May 20, killing at least 118 people and injuring 56. The first bomb went off in a market and the second, 30 minutes later, at a nearby hospital, killing rescue workers who had arrived at the scene. The militant group Boko Haram is believed to be responsible.

On May 21, Boko Haram fighters attacked the northeastern villages of Shawa and Alagarno, killing 27 people and burning buildings.

Boko Haram has increased its...

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As the civil war between government and armed anti-government groups continues in Syria, no part of the country should be considered safe from violence, and there are increased risks of kidnappings, murder and terrorism as well as indiscriminate shelling and aerial bombardment, including in densely populated urban areas. Also, the potential exists for the use of chemical warfare against civilian populations. 

In May, the US Department of State warned travelers in Libya to depart immediately. Heavy clashes between rival factions erupted in May 2014 in Benghazi and other eastern cities. Hotels frequented by westerners have been caught in the crossfire. On May 18 in Tripoli, armed groups attacked the General National Congress as part of a campaign to influence and intimidate institutions of government. This posturing has the potential to continue, reigniting fighting at any time. 

Following...

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