News Watch

March 2019 issue | Appears on page 18

Afghan military attacked

A group of Taliban militants attacked an Afghani National Directorate for Security (NDS) base southwest of Kabul on Jan. 21, killing at least 43 people and injuring more than 50 others. The attack included at least two car bombs and multiple suicide bombers. Most of the fatalities occurred in one building that collapsed due to a car bomb.

According to reports, the base was used for training pro-government militias.

March 2019 issue | Appears on page 19

UN peacekeepers killed in Mali

In northwestern Mali on Jan. 20, a UN base was attacked by members of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), an Islamist militant group, resulting in 10 peacekeepers being killed and at least 25 being wounded. The peacekeepers all were Chadian.

Islamists allied with Tuareg militias seized most of northwestern Mali in 2012 before being beaten back by French and Malian troops. However, there still is very little government presence in northwestern Mali, which makes it difficult to...

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March 2019 issue | Appears on page 19

Dam collapse in Brazil

An earthen dam holding back mining-waste water collapsed on Jan. 25 in Minas Gerais state, southern Brazil, flooding the surrounding countryside. At press time, at least 110 people were confirmed dead, with more than 200 people still missing and presumed dead. Investigations into the dam's failure were ongoing.

The iron mine is owned and operated by Brazil's largest mining company, Vale. Vale stated that the dam had met the guidelines of safety engineers.

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March 2019 issue | Appears on page 19

Trains collide in South Africa

At least three people were killed and more than 600 were injured when two passenger trains collided head-on in Pretoria, South Africa, on Jan. 8. Investigators believe that one train entered Wolmerlon Station in Mountain View on the wrong track due to a communication error, causing the accident. Speed is not believed to have been a factor.

March 2019 issue | Appears on page 19

Cuba tour bus crash

A tour bus carrying 40 passengers, including Americans, overturned on the highway between Guantánamo and Baracoa, Cuba, on Jan. 11, killing seven people and injuring 33. Those killed were three Cubans, two Argentinians, a German and a Frenchman.

The bus was being operated by the state-run company Viazul. Witnesses said the bus was trying to overtake another car at the time of the accident. The driver told investigators that a wet road caused him to lose control of the vehicle.

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March 2019 issue | Appears on page 19

Australia heat wave

Australia experienced its hottest December on record in 2018, with temperatures reaching more than 120ºF (49°C) in some areas. Temperatures in the capital, Canberra, rose to a record-breaking 102ºF (39°C), while Sydney experienced highs of around 104º. Authorities recommended that people remain inside during the hottest period of the day and drink plenty of water.

The heat wave continued into January, when five of the 10 hottest days ever on record in Australia...

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March 2019 issue | Appears on page 19

Havana tornado

A tornado ripped through Havana, Cuba, on Jan. 27, killing at least three people and injuring 172. As trees littered the streets and power lines were ripped down, electricity was cut off to large swathes of the city. The tornado, with winds over 60 miles per hour, was the first tornado to hit Havana in decades.

March 2019 issue | Appears on page 19

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). Note: A country's regions are also ranked and may have different rankings than the country as a whole. Visit travel.state.gov and click on "Travel Advisories" at the top of the page.

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