extr Afghanistan: Level 4: Do Not Travel
Effective 5 years ago ---
There are no serious national events at this time.
The United States faces escalating near-term geopolitical risks centered on imminent US-Iran military confrontation and critical Strait of Hormuz tensions, concurrent with significant domestic severe weather threats including wildfires, flash flooding, and widespread air quality degradation. Financial markets are experiencing heightened volatility reflecting global uncertainty, while major power competition between the US, Russia, and China continues to intensify across multiple strategic domains.
LAST UPDATED 07-17-2026 @ 04:31PM (CDT)World Clock
At time of updateWashington, D.C.
05:31PMLos Angeles
02:31PMLondon
10:31PMMoscow
12:31AMBeijing
05:31AMUrgent
The most severe events and alertsextr Volatility Index is up 12.19367%, currently at 18.77
Effective 22 min ago ---
warn Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Effective 7 min ago Lincoln, MT (Lewis and Clark County) US
warn Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Effective 7 min ago Trenton, FL (Gilchrist County) US
warn Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Effective 40 min ago Lincoln, MT (Lewis and Clark County) US
Alerts
The most recent alertsadvi Special Weather Statement
Elizabeth, WV
Effective 5 min ago Expires in 29 min
warn Special Marine Warning
Washburn, WI
Effective 5 min ago Expires in 29 min
advi Test Message
Gaithersburg, MD
Effective 5 min ago Expires in 5 min
advi Special Weather Statement
Monticello, GA
Effective 6 min ago Expires in 29 min
warn Special Marine Warning
Cape Canaveral, FL
Effective 7 min ago Expires in 59 min
Events
The most recent eventsFinancial
The latest global financial dataCardano (ADA)
0.1659
3.30%
Coinbase
Bitcoin (BTC)
64134.62
0.57%
Coinbase
Dogecoin (DOGE)
0.07277
0.61%
Coinbase
Ethereum (ETH)
1843.93
-1.03%
Coinbase
Solana (SOL)
75.13
-0.17%
Coinbase
DOW
52146.42
-0.77%
Yahoo Finance
FTSE 100
10600.37
0.27%
Yahoo Finance
DAX
24830.98
-0.34%
Yahoo Finance
S&P 500
7457.69
-1.01%
Yahoo Finance
Nikkei
64141.12
-4.03%
Yahoo Finance
Volatility Index
18.77
12.19%
Yahoo Finance
Crude Oil
81.79
4.48%
Yahoo Finance
Gold
4021.3
0.73%
Yahoo Finance
DOW Futures
52378
-0.77%
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 show mixed performance with notable volatility indicators elevated. The Volatility Index (VIX) has increased 8.3 percent to 18.12, suggesting higher market uncertainty. Asian markets experienced significant declines, with the Nikkei down 4.03 percent. U.S. equity indices show modest downward pressure, including the S&P 500 down 0.87 percent and the DOW down 0.58 percent. Energy commodities and transportation fuels are experiencing notable increases, with crude oil up 4.46 percent and U.S. regular gasoline prices rising 2.1 to 4.4 percent across all regions. Gold maintains slight gains at 0.56 percent, while cryptocurrency markets show mixed activity with Bitcoin up 0.26 percent but Ethereum down 1.26 percent.
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
Current DEFCON Level
DEFCON 5 - GREEN
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
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
Two countries maintain Level 4 Do Not Travel designations: Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nicaragua has been raised to Level 3 Reconsider Travel status. Multiple nations including Spain, Cuba, Cameroon, Moldova, Eswatini, and Togo remain at Level 2 Exercise Increased Caution. Numerous countries including Singapore, Australia, Georgia, Latvia, Paraguay, Kyrgyzstan, and Bhutan are maintained at Level 1 Exercise Normal Precautions. Space weather monitoring shows no active geomagnetic storms, radio blackouts, or elevated solar radiation at this time.
Headlines
The latest headlines of interest!!! Earthquake of magnitude 7.3 jolts Mexico, tsunami warning issued
WION News ---
!!! Iranian forces: missiles and drones fired at US targets in Gulf States
Al Jazeera ---
!!! Ukrainians 'disillusioned, outraged': Zelensky 'reshuffled entire govt' to dismiss defence minister
France24 ---
!!! Ukraine suffers port attacks as protests persist over defence shake-up
Al Jazeera ---
!!! US marines board commercial tanker in Gulf of Oman
Al Jazeera ---
Earthquake of magnitude 7.3 jolts Mexico, tsunami warning issued
WION News ---
Paris region's record June heatwave more than doubled normal mortality rate to reach 3,000
France24 ---
Germany to join French nuclear exercise in bid to boost defence cooperation
France24 ---
Ukrainians 'disillusioned, outraged': Zelensky 'reshuffled entire govt' to dismiss defence minister
France24 ---
New Delhi asks ship owners not to send Indian sailors to Hormuz
Russia Today ---
Kremlin responds to US election meddling accusations
Russia Today ---
Iranian forces: missiles and drones fired at US targets in Gulf States
Al Jazeera ---
Israeli attacks on Gaza kill 14, including mourners attending funeral
Al Jazeera ---
Ukraine suffers port attacks as protests persist over defence shake-up
Al Jazeera ---
UN urges probe into deaths in Pakistani-administered Kashmir unrest
Al Jazeera ---
Deadly storm leaves half a million without power in Chile
Al Jazeera ---
US marines board commercial tanker in Gulf of Oman
Al Jazeera ---
14-nation South China Sea statement is an expansionist overreach
South China Morning Post ---
Ex-US Fed adviser gets 3 years in prison in China secrets case
South China Morning Post ---
Weather conditions again brought devastating floods to a vulnerable swath of Texas
Associated Press ---
Multiple active conflicts and natural disasters are creating significant global instability, with critical developments in Iran-US tensions, Ukrainian political turmoil amid ongoing war, and major seismic activity affecting North America.
