THE US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has lowered India's travel advisory to "Level 2: moderate," while the state department eased its India rating to "Level 2: exercise increased caution."
The new advisory level, which is considered safe, came in the wake of the significant improvement in the Covid situation in the country.
In addition to India, the US currently bars most non-US citizens who within the last 14 days have been in the UK, the 26 Schengen nations in Europe without internal border controls, or in Ireland, China, South Africa, Iran, and Brazil.
President Joe Biden on April 30 imposed new travel restrictions on India in light of Covid-19, barring most non-US citizens from entering the US who had been in India within the previous 14 days.
The CDC currently lists more than 70 countries at its travel advisory rating.
The state department also urged Americans not to travel to Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest.
The US also warned against travel to Turkey because of a rising number of Covid-19 cases there.
The CDC added Turkey to its "Level 4: very high" Covid-19 level, while the state department issued its parallel: "Level 4: do not travel" advisory.
Despite the change, the US government shows no sign of easing any Covid-19 restrictions.
White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients reiterated on August 5 that in light "of the Delta variant, the US will maintain the existing travel restrictions at this point."
Last week, Canada opened to fully vaccinated American tourists for the first time in 16 months. However, the US has not eased any restrictions that barring non-essential non-US citizens from crossing its land borders with Mexico and Canada.
Those current US restrictions have been repeatedly renewed in 30-day increments and are expected to be extended before they expire on Saturday (21).
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)