The US has issued an urgent ‘do not travel’ warning for two countries amid increased political unrest and even risk to life.

While it’s great to experience new countries and cultures by traveling the world, even seasoned veterans need to keep in mind places that are not safe to visit.

I mean, people like Drew Binsky, who has traveled to every single country in the world, managed to travel such countries unharmed – but the official advice from the US is to avoid these visiting these two particular nations.

The State Department has issued a ‘do not travel’ warning to parts of Colombia amid increased risk of ‘violent crime’ and ‘terrorism‘.

“Do not travel to these areas for any reason. Violent crime, like armed robbery and murder, is common in these locations. Terrorist groups are active in some areas here,” the department states on its website.

The Venezuela-Colombia border (SCHNEYDER MENDOZA/AFP via Getty Images)

“Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in Colombia are prohibited from traveling to these areas.”

While some regions are in the ‘reconsider travel’ category, the State Department advises against visiting Arauca, Cauca, and the Colombia-Venezuela border because of crime.

The department added: “Violent crime, like murder, assault, and robbery, is common in many areas in Colombia. In some places, organized crime is rampant. This includes extortion, robbery, and kidnapping.

“There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity, in Colombia.”

The department also stated that US nationals that have entered Colombia without a visa have faced ‘terrorism charges’, which has led to them being held for ‘long periods’.

Burkina Faso is another nation the US government advises against all travel due to a ‘terrorism, crime, and kidnapping’ risk.

The landlocked country based in West Africa has an estimated population of 23 million, and its one of the least developed nations in the world.

The US has advised against all travel to Burkina Faso (Getty Stock Photo)

Issuing a warnings to travelers thinking of paying Burkina Faso a visit, the State Department said: “Do not travel to Burkina Faso for any reason due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping.

“Terrorist organizations continue to plan and conduct terrorist activities throughout Burkina Faso.”

They continued: “The threat of kidnapping remains persistent throughout Burkina Faso, including in Ouagadougou and especially in the Sahel and East regions.

“Due to the risks, the U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in most of the country. U.S. government employees working in Burkina Faso are prohibited from traveling to regions outside the capital due to security concerns.”

Experts have issued a warning about a common practice many will partake in every day that has been linked to deadly liver injuries in the US.

To put it simply, the liver plays a crucial role in the function of the human body and is responsible for assisting more than 500 activities, including filtering harmful substances from the blood.

Some livers metabolize toxins more slowly than others, meaning some drugs can overwhelm and cause harm to even the healthiest of livers out there.

But what about supplements? They’re something lots of us take everyday, thinking it’s good for our health and overall wellbeing.

Well, experts may say otherwise.

Liver damage can happen to the healthiest of people (Getty Stock Photo)

Medics are warning that herbal and dietary supplements could be causing liver damage, with a 2017 study finding 20 percent of liver toxicity cases nationwide are linked to herbal and dietary supplements.

Meanwhile, according to a 2022 study in the journal Liver Transplantation, from 1995 to 2020, supplement-related liver failure which put patients on the donor waiting list increased by eight times.

Robert Grafton was a regular taker of such supplements, but things changed when he reported dark urine and itching one weekend and recognised the symptoms of liver failure.

Grafton told NBC: “I stopped taking everything, thank goodness. If I hadn’t known, if I was not in the medical field, I might have thought, ‘Oh, I think I’m getting sick. I need to take some more of these supplements to help me feel better.’

“My liver enzymes were super elevated, my bilirubin was really high — all the signs of liver failure. I pretty much broke down, my wife as well. I was, at that point, thinking it was liver cancer, pancreatic cancer or something.”

After many sleepless nights, Grafton was told by doctors he had a ‘drug-induced liver injury’, which had been brought on by the supplements.

Dr. Dina Halegoua-De Marzio, who treated Grafton during his time of need, has since issued a warning about these supplements.

Experts have issued a waring about supplements (Getty Stock Photo)

“I think people assume these things are safe,” the health expert said. “The No. 1 reason we see people taking these are for good health or to supplement their health, and so I don’t think that they realize that there is a real risk here.”

It’s important to note the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not monitor supplement safety before they are put on store shelves, so it’s important you know the risks.

In a statement provided to NBC News, the FDA warned: “Dietary supplements may contain ingredients that can have strong effects in the body, even if the ingredients are natural or plant-derived.

“Adverse events are more likely to occur if consumers take supplements in high doses, take multiple supplements or take supplements instead of or in addition to medications.”

Donald Trump has announced a ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence program revealing who’s set to be involved, an anticipated timeline, and why it’s all necessary.

On May 20, Trump outlined his ideas for a $175 billion ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence program while speaking to reporters from the Oval Office in the White House.

The goal of the program? To help the US to intercept missiles ‘even if they are launched from space‘.

Current vice chief of space operations, General Michael Guetlein, is set to oversee the progress of the Golden Dome and – shockingly – the POTUS’ right-hand man Elon Musk is also potentially set to be involved.

Here’s a breakdown of it all for you…

What is the Golden Dome and why is it necessary?

Donald Trump revealed plans for the Golden Dome on May 20 (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

China and Russia developing new, advanced missiles hasn’t sat well with the US. The two countries have already put offensive weapons in space – including satellites that can disable critical US satellites – meaning the US is subsequently vulnerable to attack.

Following warnings from the Pentagon that updating countermeasures is a much-needed step, the POTUS has since decided to do something about it.

Essentially, the Golden Dome program is set to strengthen the US’ ability to detect and stop missiles at four specific stages of a missiles’ launch and journey:

• Before a launch
• During the earliest stage of a missile’s flight
• During the middle of a missile’s course
• During the final minutes as a missile approaches a target

Head of the US Space Force, General Chance Saltzman, said the Golden Dome and its weapons ‘represent new and emerging requirements for missions that have never before been accomplished by military space organizations’.

And Trump has an ambitious plan for how long the program should take to set up.

The Golden Dome is a missile defense system (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Trump’s timeline for the Golden Dome

Trump’s presidency is set to come to an end in 2029 – as long as he doesn’t try and find a loophole to run for a third time that is.

And during Tuesday’s press conference, he said he hopes the Golden Dome will be ‘fully operational before the end of [his] term’.

The president also detailed an initial spend of $25 billion to begin work on the program.

The system is reported as being set to cost $175 billion to create – and it could cost the US an even heftier amount in the long-run.

Trump hopes to achieve the program before his second term comes to an end (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The expected cost of the Golden Dome

It’s reported there are medium, high and ‘extra high’ choices for developing options within the program, an official said as reported by PA News Agency.

The differences between the three options would essentially depend on how many satellites, sensors, and space-based interceptors are bought.

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that space-based components of the program alone could cost as much as $542 billion over the next 20 years.

On Tuesday, newly confirmed Air Force Secretary Troy Meink noted to senators there’s not actually any money currently available for the project yet with the Golden Dome ‘still in the conceptual stage’.

But where does Elon Musk come into all of it?

The program could cost the US as much as $542 billion over the next 20 years (Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Elon Musk’s potential involvement in the Golden Dome

Well, ‘six people familiar with the matter’ told Reuters that Musk’s SpaceX alongside two partners are ‘frontrunners’ to help build the program.

Representatives of SpaceX alongside software maker Palantir and drone builder Anduril reportedly met with Trump administration officials alongside the Pentagon to make their pitch.

The pitch? To build and launch between 400-1,000 satellites around the globe to detect missiles alongside another 200 armed with missiles or lasers themselves to stop enemy missiles.

UNILAD has contacted SpaceX for comment.

So, what has China said about the US’ Golden Dome plan?

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has reportedly already pitched to get involved in the program (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

China’s response to the Golden Dome

Not long after Trump’s announcement of the program, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning issued a warning.

Mao said the Golden Dome carries ‘strong offensive implications’, and increases the risk of outer space becoming militarized.

He also argued it heightens the risks of an arms race.

The spokesperson said: “The United States, in pursuing a ‘US-first’ policy, is obsessed with seeking absolute security for itself. This violates the principle that the security of all countries should not be compromised and undermines global strategic balance and stability. China is seriously concerned about this.”

Mao even urged Washington to ditch the development of the Golden Dome altogether.

Although, with Trump at the helm, I wouldn’t hold my breath…

A 1-year-old boy ended up needing surgery for serious burns he’d received after pulling an air fryer onto himself.

Ryder Flanagan, from Georgia, US ended up with some intense burns on his hands and face after he pulled the appliance off the kitchen counter.

According to his mother, Abigail Flanagan, the little boy pulled it ‘as soon as it dinged’.

She later told The Daily Mail that it had not been located on the edge of the counter, but rather that he’d ‘jerked the handle and the back of the air fryer basket is what hit his face’.

Ryder Flanagan needed surgery for the burns he suffered (GoFundMe)

“He has grown an inch since birth and is as big as a 2.5-year-old. I didn’t have a clue he could attempt to reach the handle.” she said.

After Ryder burnt himself, she and his father, Blake, rushed him to Wellstar Cobb Burn Center. He underwent stem cell transplant surgery on Thursday (July 25) – which required the little boy to be put to sleep.

The procedure usually involves transferring stem cells from the blood or bone marrow of one person – usually a close relative – or it can be from the person themselves, according to the NHS.

And The National Library of Medicine states that stem cells have been found to help with wound regeneration.

Abigail said that all his damaged skin had been removed, and though he has since been released from the burns unit, he’ll still need to receive treatment.

But despite the ordeal he’d experienced, Ryder is in good spirits, his mother said, adding that they don’t expect him to go through anymore surgeries.

Abigail later posted a thank you to all those that had donated to the GoFundMe page, which was set up by a family friend to pay for ‘any unprecedented costs’, on July 20 and gave an update about her son’s condition.

His mother said he pulled the airfryer on to himself as ‘soon as it dinged’ (Getty Stock Image)

She said: “I just want to say thank you to every single person that has prayed and donated. We pray God blesses each of you as much as we have been blessed.

“Everyone has took so much burden and worry off of us and it’s truly a miracle with everyone’s prayers that Ryder has only showed he was in pain when it first happened.

“You can tell he doesn’t feel just right but he has not been in distress. And as bad of shape I was in when this all happened I can tell you that the prayers for me God has answered.”

“Thank you everyone, family and friends and a lot of people we don’t know personally, we love you all so much.”