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9 Places the U.S. Government Warns Not to Travel Right Now

By U.S. News & World Report

Travel Alerts and Warnings

Taking a trip this summer?

You might want to visit the U.S. Department of State website before you book your tickets.

On its passport site, the department tells travelers about possible international dangers using two types of notifications: alerts and warnings.

“Travel alerts” are for short-term events U.S. travelers should know about when planning to visit another country. The department cancels alerts when events have concluded. Alerts have stemmed from situations including election seasons, protests, disease outbreaks and elevated terrorist attack risks, according to the department.

In more dangerous situations, the department issues “travel warnings,” urging U.S. travelers to reconsider whether they should travel to a country at all. The department ends a warning when a situation of concern changes in a country. Some warnings have been in effect for years and have stemmed from unstable governments, civil war, violence and frequent terrorist attacks.

Here’s a look at the nine most recent notifications.

Europe

Type of notification: Alert

Date of issue: May 1, 2017

Expiration: Sept. 1, 2017

What the department says: “Extremists continue to focus on tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities as viable targets. In addition, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, high-profile events, educational institutions, airports, and other soft targets remain priority locations for possible attacks,” according to the department. Be extra vigilant during the summer travel season, which brings large crowds.

Pakistan

Type of notification: Warning

Date of issue: April 12, 2017

Expiration: None given. The notification replaces an Oct. 7, 2016 warning.

What the department says: In Pakistan, services for U.S. citizens are limited and security concerns are on-going.

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, the consulate general in Karachi and the consulate general in Lahore often have limited services because of “the security environment,” according to the department. The consulate general in Peshawar is also not providing services.

Terrorists may target U.S. citizens, as well as airports, hotels, schools, hospitals, places of worship and public parks, among other places.

Israel, West Bank and Gaza

Type of notification: Warning

Date of issue: April 11, 2017

Expiration: None given. The notification replaces an Aug. 23, 2016 warning.

What the department says: People should not travel to the Gaza Strip, and those in the area should leave as soon as possible.

Security in Israel and the West Bank “remains complex” and “can change quickly depending on the political environment, recent events, and particular geographic location,” according to the department.

Niger

Type of notification: Warning

Date of issue: April 11, 2017

Expiration: None given. The notification replaces a Jan. 27, 2016 warning.

What the department says: Avoid travel to Niger because of terrorist activity, kidnappings and high crime rates.

U.S. citizens should “avoid travel to Niger’s border regions, particularly the Malian border area, Diffa region and Lake Chad Basin area because of activity by extremist groups including al-Qa’eda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham — Islamic State West Africa, and Boko Haram,” according to the department.

The U.S. Embassy also has a limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in remote and rural areas because of security concerns and travel restrictions.

Best Countries Rank: Not ranked

Kenya

Type of notification: Alert

Date of issue: April 6, 2017

Expiration: Aug. 31, 2017

What the department says: General elections in Kenya are scheduled for Aug. 8, 2017 and could prompt rallies, demonstrations and protests that may escalate into violence.

“As with all large events, there is also the opportunity for criminal elements or terrorists to target participants and visitors. You should avoid areas of gatherings, protests, and demonstrations, and exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of any such events,” according to the department.

Nigeria

Type of notification: Warning

Date of issue: April 5, 2017

Expiration: None given. The notification replaces a Feb. 8, 2017 warning.

What the department says: Security in northeast Nigeria is “fluid and unpredictable.” U.S. citizens should avoid all travel to Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kano, and Yobe states unless its essential.

The U.S. Mission is having a difficult providing services to U.S. citizens because of the “very poor transportation infrastructure,” according to the department. “All U.S. citizens should have evacuation plans that do not solely rely on U.S. government assistance. Due to the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and other armed attacks, U.S. citizens should also avoid all but essential travel to: Bayelsa, Delta, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.”

Sudan

Type of notification: Warning

Date of issue: March 30, 2016

Expiration: None given. The notification replaces a Jan. 21, 2016 warning.

What the department says: Terrorists groups have said they intend to harm Westerners through suicide operations, bombings, shootings and kidnappings in Sudan. U.S. citizens should not travel to the Darfur region, Blue Nile, and Southern Kordofan states because of the risks of terrorism, armed conflict and violent crime.

The U.S. Embassy can only provide limited services to U.S. citizens outside of Khartoum.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Type of notification: Warning

Date of issue: March 29, 2017

Expiration: None given. The notification replaces a Dec. 23, 2016 warning.

What the department says: Avoid all unnecessary travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The U.S. Embassy is having a difficult time providing services outside of Kinshasa because of security limitations and the country’s “very poor transportation infrastructure.”

“Armed groups, bandits, and some elements of the Congolese armed forces operate in the provinces of North and South Kivu, Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele, Ituri, Tanganyika, Haut-Lomami, and the Kasai region,” according to the department. “These groups have been known to kill, rape, kidnap, pillage, and carry out military or paramilitary operations in which civilians may be indiscriminately targeted.”

Saudi Arabia

Type of notification: Warning

Date of issue: March 29, 2017

Expiration: None given. The notification replaces a July 27, 2016 warning.

What the department says: U.S. citizens should consider threats from terrorist groups and the violence that has spilled into Saudi Arabia from Yemen.

“Terrorist groups, including ISIS and its affiliates, have targeted both Saudi and Western government interests, mosques and significant religious sites (both Sunni and Shia), and places frequented by U.S. citizens and other Westerners,” the department says.

More information

Trying to plan a trip? Check out the best countries for solo travel and the best countries for adventure.

A full list of travel warnings and alerts can be found here.

More from U.S. News

U.S. Issues Travel Alert for Europe, Citing Threat of Terrorist Attacks

U.S. State Department Warns Travelers Of Terror Risk in Europe

What You Need to Know About Travel Warnings and Alerts

9 Places the U.S. Government Warns Not to Travel Right Now originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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