extr Afghanistan: Level 4: Do Not Travel
Effective 5 years ago ---
There are no serious national events at this time.
Global tensions remain elevated with an active 82-day Middle East conflict showing escalation risks, strategic Russian-Chinese partnership deepening, and multiple regional instabilities, while domestic U.S. conditions remain manageable with localized severe weather and normal geophysical activity.
LAST UPDATED 05-20-2026 @ 04:01PM (CDT)World Clock
At time of updateWashington, D.C.
05:01PMLos Angeles
02:01PMLondon
10:01PMMoscow
12:01AMBeijing
05:01AMUrgent
The most severe events and alertswarn Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Effective 4 min ago Clay, WV (Clay County) US
warn Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Effective 5 min ago Madison, WV (Boone County) US
warn Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Effective 6 min ago Bowleys Quarters, MD (Baltimore County) US
warn Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Effective 7 min ago Bowleys Quarters, MD (Baltimore County) US
warn Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Effective 9 min ago Ridge, NY (Suffolk County) US
Alerts
The most recent alertswarn Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Clay, WV
Effective 4 min ago Expires in 29 min
advi Air Quality Alert
Sells, AZ
Effective 5 min ago Expires in 24 hr
warn Special Marine Warning
Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
Effective 5 min ago Expires in 59 min
warn Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Madison, WV
Effective 5 min ago Expires in 29 min
warn Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Bowleys Quarters, MD
Effective 6 min ago Expires in 29 min
Events
The most recent eventswatc M 3.2 - 10 km ENE of Nikolaevsk, Alaska
Fritz Creek, AK Effective 21 min ago
Financial
The latest global financial dataCardano (ADA)
0.25
0.85%
Coinbase
Bitcoin (BTC)
77601.34
1.09%
Coinbase
Dogecoin (DOGE)
0.10418
1.23%
Coinbase
Ethereum (ETH)
2136.22
1.24%
Coinbase
Solana (SOL)
85.97
2.07%
Coinbase
DOW
50009.35
1.31%
Yahoo Finance
FTSE 100
10432.34
0.99%
Yahoo Finance
DAX
24737.24
1.38%
Yahoo Finance
S&P 500
7432.97
1.08%
Yahoo Finance
Nikkei
59804.41
-1.23%
Yahoo Finance
Volatility Index
17.4
-3.65%
Yahoo Finance
Crude Oil
98.44
-5.48%
Yahoo Finance
Gold
4550.2
0.86%
Yahoo Finance
DOW Futures
50098
1.29%
Yahoo Finance
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - National
4.49
-0.22%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - East Coast
4.305
-0.71%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - New England
4.489
0.25%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Central Atlantic
4.527
-0.15%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Lower Atlantic
4.12
-1.34%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Midwest
4.399
-0.14%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Gulf Coast
3.951
-0.05%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Rocky Mountain
4.587
4.92%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - West Coast
5.605
-0.14%
US EIA
Global financial markets demonstrate mixed performance with significant regional variation. Major U.S. indices including the DOW, S&P 500, and DAX show strong gains of approximately 1.1-1.4%, while cryptocurrency markets are broadly positive with Ethereum up 1.28%, Bitcoin up 0.89%, and Solana leading gains at 2.54%. However, the Nikkei 225 in Japan shows weakness with a decline of -1.23%, and volatility indices have decreased by -2.82%, suggesting reduced market uncertainty. Energy markets are soft with crude oil declining -5.75% to $98.16 per barrel, while most U.S. regional gasoline prices are stable or declining, with the exception of Rocky Mountain region gasoline prices surging 4.92%.
Data
The latest global dataTogo
Level 2
Singapore
Level 1
Afghanistan
Level 4
The Kyrgyz Republic
Level 1
Bhutan
Level 1
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
Antigua and Barbuda
Level 1
Dominica
Level 1
Mauritius
Level 1
Croatia
Level 1
Sweden
Level 2
Venezuela
Level 3
Rwanda
Level 3
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Level 4
South Sudan
Level 4
Uganda
Level 4
Chad
Level 1
Slovenia
Level 1
Namibia
Level 2
Sudan
Level 4
Brunei
Level 1
Malawi
Level 2
Malawi
Level 2
Burma
Level 4
Lebanon
Level 4
Lebanon
Level 4
Iceland
Level 1
Iceland
Level 1
Jordan
Level 3
Burkina Faso
Level 4
Burkina Faso
Level 4
Chad
Level 1
Current DEFCON Level
DEFCON 4 - BLUE
New Zealand
Level 1
New Zealand
Level 1
Lithuania
Level 1
Bolivia
Level 2
Bolivia
Level 2
Turkey
Level 2
Azerbaijan
Level 3
Malaysia
Level 1
Oman
Level 1
International travel advisories reflect significant concerns in select regions, with Afghanistan maintaining a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory due to extreme security conditions. Venezuela and Nicaragua remain at Level 3 "Reconsider Travel" status, indicating substantial risks for travelers. Several countries including Togo, Cuba, Cameroon, Moldova, and Sweden are classified at Level 2 "Exercise Increased Caution," reflecting moderate security or health concerns. Most other regions worldwide maintain Level 1 status with normal precautions recommended. Space weather monitoring shows no current geomagnetic storms, radio blackouts, or solar radiation events.
Headlines
The latest headlines of interest!!! Ukraine preparing strikes on Russia from NATO country – Moscow
Russia Today ---
!!! EU nation urges NATO to attack Russian exclave
Russia Today ---
!!! US and China must talk to manage dangers of AI contest in a nuclear age
South China Morning Post ---
!!! Will Trump kill the $14bn Taiwan arms deal?
Al Jazeera ---
!!! Lithuanian lawmakers shelter, air traffic suspended over drone alert
France24 ---
Ukrainian PM Lisa Yasko asserts: Any country trading with Russia is on 'the wrong side of history'
France24 ---
Far-right Israeli minister sparks outcry with video of bound and kneeling Gaza flotilla activists
France24 ---
Lithuanian lawmakers shelter, air traffic suspended over drone alert
France24 ---
'Nothing is safe': Trade on route between Senegal and Mali grinds to a halt
France24 ---
Libyan prison chief known as 'Angel of Death' appears before ICC
France24 ---
EU nation urges NATO to attack Russian exclave
Russia Today ---
Ukraine preparing strikes on Russia from NATO country – Moscow
Russia Today ---
What is the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline that Russia, China are planning?
Al Jazeera ---
Families demand justice for victims killed in Israeli strikes on Beirut
Al Jazeera ---
Is the West de-risking from China or containing its economy?
Al Jazeera ---
Will Trump kill the $14bn Taiwan arms deal?
Al Jazeera ---
US and China must talk to manage dangers of AI contest in a nuclear age
South China Morning Post ---
EU picks tungsten, rare earths, gallium for first critical mineral stockpile
South China Morning Post ---
Chinese investment in Europe surges to 7-year high despite rising trade tensions
South China Morning Post ---
Outbreak of rare Ebola strain sparks race to find vaccines and treatments
South China Morning Post ---
Joint Nigeria-US strikes kill 175 Isis fighters
South China Morning Post ---
Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla, denies using live ammunition
South China Morning Post ---
What to know about the Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola causing an outbreak in Congo
Associated Press ---
Multiple geopolitical and military flashpoints are active simultaneously, with nuclear rhetoric, regional conflicts, and strategic power realignment creating a complex global security environment.
