World Status Report
May 21, 2025
This report intends to give the UTD Community a snapshot of international risks, and other issues as reported by the linked media and official sources from the U.S. and other countries.
More health and security information for each country can be found in the travel advisories issued by the governments of the United States, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia, and the CDC, ECDC, and WHO sites. Not all advise in these sites will apply to US travelers.
Please note the publication date of this report and go to the direct sources linked for the most up-to-date information. The information in this report may change without prior notice.
Security
- 2 security experts killed in armed attack at Guadalajara taquería (Mexico News Daily) – Initial reports stated that the two men who were killed collaborated with the United States Embassy in Mexico, but the U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara said that the victims were not “currently” employees of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Mexico.
- Turkey issues arrest warrants for 22 in Istanbul municipality corruption probe (EURO News) – Turkish authorities issued arrest warrants for 22 people, targeting Istanbul’s Metropolitan Municipality over alleged corruption. Mayor İmamoğlu denies wrongdoing.
- Airstrikes kill dozens in Gaza as criticism of Israel grows (Reuters) – Israeli airstrikes killed at least 55 Palestinians in Gaza on Tuesday, local medics said, as Israel continued its bombardment of the strip despite mounting international pressure to stop military operations and allow unimpeded deliveries of aid.
Demonstrations
- Thousands protest after a suspected drone strike kills 4 children in northwest Pakistan (AP News) – A suspected drone strike killed four children and wounded five others in northwest Pakistan, prompting thousands of residents to stage a protest by placing the children’s bodies on a main road to demand justice, local elders said on Tuesday.
- Ride-hailing drivers in Indonesia hold protests to demand better pay (Reuters) – Hundreds of taxi and delivery drivers joined protests in several cities across Indonesia on Tuesday over low wages and to oppose a planned merger between the country’s largest tech company GoTo, opens new tab and U.S.-listed ride-hailing rival Grab.
Infrastructure
- Venezuela suspends flights from Colombia after arrests (Reuters) – Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on Monday he has ordered flights from Colombia suspended after the arrests of more than three dozen people, including some 17 foreigners who arrived via Colombia, over allegations of “conspiracy.” Venezuela’s aviation authority later said the measure will last until May 26 at 6 p.m. local time.
Environment
- Indonesia – Landslide and flash flood (ERCC) – As of 20 May, six people died, 14 are missing and four have been injured in a gold mine in Jim village of the Arfak Mountains Regency in north-western West Papua province. In addition, several roads have been damaged and the shelter for the workers has been destroyed.
- India – Severe weather (ERCC) – According to media reports, one person was killed due to the collapse of infrastructure after heavy rains. Several parts of the city were flooded, and power outages were reported.
- Vietnam – Landslide (ERCC) – As at 19 May, media reports indicate at least nine fatalities, one person missing, and four injured. Multiple landslides have further damaged several houses and crops, and killed 90 cows.
- Australia – Severe weather and floods (ERCC) – As of 20 May, media reports one injured person in Umina Beach in the Central Coast region, 60 displaced people in Taree city, and evacuation orders for Taree, Coopernook, Bulahdelah, Mid North Coast region due to the rising waters of the Manning River, and Dumaresq Island, Northern Tablelands region. Six evacuation centres have been set up across New South Wales, and 60 schools have been closed.
- Syria’s driest winter in nearly 7 decades triggers a severe water crisis in Damascus (AP) – Inside a mountain above the Syrian capital, Hassan Bashi walked through tunnels that used to be filled with water from a spring famous for its pure waters.
Please note the publication date of this report and go to the direct sources linked for the most up-to-date information. The information in this report may change without prior notice.
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