News Watch
Current advisories
The US Department of State posts up-to-date travel advisories on every country and many territories, ranking each 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions), 2 (Exercise Increased Caution), 3 (Reconsider Travel) or 4 (Do Not Travel).
Israel-Gaza conflict
Israel exchanged rocket and artillery fire with Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants in Gaza May 12-21. In the conflict, at least 243 people were killed in Gaza, more than 100 of whom were women or children. In Israel, 13 people, including two children, were killed.
Taiwan train crash
On April 2, a passenger train carrying nearly 500 people from Taipei to Taitung, Taiwan, collided with a maintenance truck that had rolled down an embankment and onto the tracks, causing it to derail. Forty-nine people were killed and more than 200, wounded.
Current advisories
The US Department of State posts up-to-date travel advisories on every country and many territories, ranking each 1 (Exercise normal precautions), 2 (Exercise increased caution), 3 (Reconsider travel) or 4 (Do not travel).
Northern Ireland riots
In Northern Ireland, the largest protests and riots in the area since the end of The Troubles in 1998 began in late March. Large gatherings and violent acts had occurred nearly every night up to press time, with nearly 100 police officers injured and multiple cars and buildings damaged by petrol bombs.
Pakistan hotel bombed
A car bomb was detonated at the Serena Hotel in Quetta, Balochistan Province, southwestern Pakistan, on April 22, killing five people and injuring 12. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Quetta is near the border of Afghanistan, where the Taliban is based.
East Jerusalem riot
Nationalist Israeli and Palestinian protesters clashed in East Jerusalem on April 22, causing injuries to at least 100 people. The clashes occurred after days of counterprotests between the groups, who began throwing bottles and rocks at each other as police worked to keep the groups separate.
Caribbean volcano erupts
La Soufrière, a volcano on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, the largest island in St. Vincent & the Grenadines, erupted in a large explosion on April 9, sending an ash cloud 6½ miles into the air. Further explosive events have occurred, and the volcano continued to erupt ash at press time.
COVID-19 update
At press time, active COVID-19 infections had been confirmed in 192 countries and territories, with more than 149.8 million cases and, resulting from those, more than 3.1 million deaths.
Senegal protests
Supporters of an opposition leader in Senegal protested outside of a courthouse and clashed with police in the capital, Dakar, on March 5, leaving at least one person dead.
Australia floods
Heavy rains caused major flooding in southeastern Australia in late March, including in suburbs of Sydney, killing at least two people. More than 40,000 people were evacuated as some areas experienced nearly 2 feet of rainfall within a 24-hour period, which even created waterfalls at Uluru (Ayers Rock).
Myanmar protests continue
Protests against a military coup in Myanmar have been ongoing since Feb. 1. Though the protests were initially somewhat peaceful, soldiers began firing on protesters with live rounds after a ban on gatherings went unheeded.
Trains collide in Egypt
A passenger train traveling in southern Egypt collided with the back end of another passenger train on March 26, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than 100.
COVID-19 update
At press time, active COVID-19 infections had been confirmed in 192 countries and territories, with more than 131.5 million cases and, resulting from those, more than 2.9 million deaths.
Current advisories
The US Department of State posts up-to-date travel advisories on every country and many territories, ranking each 1 (Exercise normal precautions), 2 (Exercise increased caution), 3 (Reconsider travel) or 4 (Do not travel).
Protests in Lebanon
Protesters in Beirut, Lebanon, blocked roads and burned debris on March 16 after the value of the Lebanese pound reached record lows, losing a third of its value within two weeks and trading at LBP15,000 to US$1.
China sandstorm
The worst sandstorm to hit northern China in more than a decade struck 12 provinces and the capital, Beijing, on March 14, lasting multiple days.
Indonesia terrorist bombing
A suicide bombing outside of a church in Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia, wounded 14 people on Palm Sunday, March 28. The bombing occurred after two men attempted to force their way into the church near the end of the service but were prevented by security guards and church officials.
Somalia election violence
In Mogadishu, Somalia, gunfire broke out on Feb. 19 as people defied a ban on public gatherings and protested a delayed presidential election. According to witnesses, soldiers and armed guards protecting protesters fired on each other as protests neared the presidential palace.
COVID-19 update
At press time, active COVID-19 infections had been confirmed in 192 countries and territories, with more than 114.3 million cases and, resulting from those, more than 2.5 million deaths. The country with the most confirmed cases was the US, with 28.6 million.