extr Afghanistan: Level 4: Do Not Travel
Effective 5 years ago ---
There are no serious national events at this time.
Active US-Iran military escalation with six consecutive nights of strikes and Iranian retaliation, combined with Ukraine's military-political crisis, intensifying Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and NATO nuclear threshold discussions, creates a dangerous near-term environment. Domestic threats include multiple severe weather events, while global energy security is threatened by Iran's Strait of Hormuz closure threat, and financial markets are volatile in response to geopolitical tensions.
LAST UPDATED 07-17-2026 @ 11:04AM (CDT)World Clock
At time of updateWashington, D.C.
12:04PMLos Angeles
09:04AMLondon
05:04PMMoscow
07:04PMBeijing
12:04AMUrgent
The most severe events and alertswarn Volatility Index is up 8.846381%, currently at 18.21
Effective 58 min ago ---
warn Flood Warning
Effective 2 min ago Sulphur, LA (Calcasieu Parish) US
warn Flood Warning
Effective 20 min ago Mount Sterling, IL (Brown County) US
warn Flood Warning
Effective 20 min ago Virginia, IL (Cass County) US
Alerts
The most recent alertswarn Flood Warning
Sulphur, LA
Effective 2 min ago Expires in 1 day
advi Heat Advisory
Scott City, MO
Effective 3 min ago Expires in 17 hr
advi Heat Advisory
Beckemeyer, IL
Effective 3 min ago Expires in 15 hr
warn Flash Flood Warning
Big Lake, TX
Effective 3 min ago Expires in 2 hr
advi Small Craft Advisory
Los Osos, CA
Effective 6 min ago Expires in 6 hr
Events
The most recent eventsok Green earthquake (Magnitude 5.3M, Depth:10km) in Mexico 17/07/2026 15:14 UTC, 30 thousand in 100km.
Puerto Madero, Chiapas Effective 31 min ago
watc M 5.3 - 93 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico
Puerto Madero, Chiapas Effective 50 min ago
Financial
The latest global financial dataCardano (ADA)
0.1617
0.68%
Coinbase
Bitcoin (BTC)
63038.41
-1.15%
Coinbase
Dogecoin (DOGE)
0.0717
-0.87%
Coinbase
Ethereum (ETH)
1816.86
-2.49%
Coinbase
Solana (SOL)
74.14
-1.49%
Coinbase
DOW
52482.27
-0.13%
Yahoo Finance
FTSE 100
10573.34
0.01%
Yahoo Finance
DAX
24797.44
-0.47%
Yahoo Finance
S&P 500
7468.63
-0.86%
Yahoo Finance
Nikkei
64141.12
-4.03%
Yahoo Finance
Volatility Index
18.21
8.85%
Yahoo Finance
Crude Oil
80.42
2.73%
Yahoo Finance
Gold
4000.2
0.20%
Yahoo Finance
DOW Futures
52760
-0.05%
Yahoo Finance
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - National
3.855
2.07%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - East Coast
3.765
1.76%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - New England
3.851
1.18%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Central Atlantic
3.925
1.32%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Lower Atlantic
3.642
2.25%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Midwest
3.662
3.71%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Gulf Coast
3.423
2.39%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Rocky Mountain
3.823
4.43%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - West Coast
4.832
0.02%
US EIA
Financial markets and commodity prices show notable volatility and mixed performance in the past hour. The Volatility Index has surged 12.19 percent to 18.77, reflecting increased market uncertainty and risk. Equities are under pressure, with the Nikkei declining 4.03 percent as the worst performer, while the S&P 500 is down 0.65 percent and the DAX declined 0.51 percent; the DOW and FTSE 100 show minimal movement. Cryptocurrency markets are uniformly negative, with Ethereum down 2.00 percent, Bitcoin down 0.97 percent, and Solana down 1.12 percent. Energy commodities are sharply higher, with crude oil up 3.62 percent and gasoline prices rising across all U.S. regions by 1.18 to 4.43 percent, reflecting heightened energy market concerns.
Data
The latest global dataTogo
Level 2
Singapore
Level 1
Eswatini
Level 2
Afghanistan
Level 4
The Kyrgyz Republic
Level 1
Bhutan
Level 1
Spain
Level 2
Cuba
Level 2
Australia
Level 1
Georgia
Level 1
Cameroon
Level 2
Nicaragua
Level 3
Moldova
Level 2
Latvia
Level 1
Paraguay
Level 1
Geomagnetic Storm
none
Radio Blackout
none
Solar Radiation
none
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Level 4
Argentina
Level 1
Saint Lucia
Level 2
Eswatini
Level 2
Haiti
Level 4
Malta
Level 1
Niger
Level 4
French Guiana
Level 1
Malaysia
Level 1
Federated States of Micronesia
Level 1
Federated States of Micronesia
Level 1
Montserrat
Level 1
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Level 1
Thailand
Level 1
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Level 1
Samoa
Level 1
Ghana
Level 2
Indonesia
Level 2
Turks and Caicos Islands
Level 2
Gabon
Level 1
Norway
Level 1
Pakistan
Level 1
Malawi
Level 1
Burkina Faso
Level 1
Current DEFCON Level
DEFCON 5 - GREEN
Kuwait
Level 3
Oman
Level 3
Venezuela
Level 3
Russia
Level 1
El Salvador
Level 1
El Salvador
Level 1
Vietnam
Level 1
Vietnam
Level 1
Jamaica
Level 2
Jamaica
Level 2
Slovakia
Level 1
Chad
Level 1
Bangladesh
Level 1
International travel advisories remain largely stable with two countries maintaining Level 4 Do Not Travel designations: Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nicaragua is listed at Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) due to ongoing security concerns. Six countries maintain Level 2 Exercise Increased Caution ratings, including Togo, Eswatini, Spain, Cuba, Cameroon, and Moldova, reflecting various regional stability concerns. Geomagnetic and solar activity presents no current threats, with no geomagnetic storms, radio blackouts, or solar radiation events reported.
Headlines
The latest headlines of interest!!! Over 200 Ukrainian drones launched toward Moscow – mayor
Russia Today ---
!!! US strikes destroy key bridges, tower in southern Iran
Al Jazeera ---
!!! Gulf states come under Iranian fire as US strikes intensify
Al Jazeera ---
!!! 'Several US refueling aircraft and fighter jets destroyed', claims Iran
WION News ---
!!! Hopes for US-Iran diplomacy still alive as fighting intensifies over the Strait of Hormuz
Associated Press ---
!!! Strait of Hormuz crisis: What is the current state of the waterway?
Russia Today ---
Who are Russia's 3,000 African army recruits fighting in Ukraine?
France24 ---
'We will have to share the water': a quarter of small waterways in France have run dry
France24 ---
Fire reignites in Fontainebleau forest as investigation continues
France24 ---
'Like smoking cigarettes all day': Chicago chokes in wildfire smoke-heavy air
France24 ---
US tightens grip on Iran while insisting diplomacy still possible
France24 ---
China's Xi urges global cooperation on AI, warns against single-country dominance
France24 ---
Iran war ends 23-year US military presence in Iraq
Russia Today ---
EU bans gold imports from major African producer
Russia Today ---
Over 200 Ukrainian drones launched toward Moscow – mayor
Russia Today ---
Strait of Hormuz crisis: What is the current state of the waterway?
Russia Today ---
Poland blames Russia for Ukrainian who desecrated WWII memorials
Russia Today ---
New Delhi asks ship owners not to send Indian sailors to Hormuz
Russia Today ---
US strikes destroy key bridges, tower in southern Iran
Al Jazeera ---
Germany repeats call for EU force to replace UN peacekeepers in Lebanon
Al Jazeera ---
Gulf states come under Iranian fire as US strikes intensify
Al Jazeera ---
A former prime minister who led Israel out of Lebanon fears mistakes are being repeated
Associated Press ---
'Several US refueling aircraft and fighter jets destroyed', claims Iran
WION News ---
Hopes for US-Iran diplomacy still alive as fighting intensifies over the Strait of Hormuz
Associated Press ---
Weather conditions again brought devastating floods to a vulnerable swath of Texas
Associated Press ---
Texas floods kill 2, with more storms to come
South China Morning Post ---
Italian police raid luxury brands Bulgari and Chanel over exploitation of Chinese workers
South China Morning Post ---
UK court jails young hackers for massive London transport cyberattack
South China Morning Post ---
Zelensky faces fury on Ukrainian streets after dropping popular defence minister
South China Morning Post ---
Why the West has an uphill task challenging China in pharmaceutical ingredients
South China Morning Post ---
Ex-US Fed adviser gets 3 years in prison in China secrets case
South China Morning Post ---
14-nation South China Sea statement is an expansionist overreach
South China Morning Post ---
Active military escalation in the Middle East combined with ongoing Ukraine conflict and multiple natural disasters create a complex, multi-front risk environment.
