The Trump administration is considering a new travel ban that could affect citizens from up to 43 countries, meant to address “national security and public safety threat,” reports claimed on Friday.

An internal memo seen by several US media outlets outlines a draft proposal for an expanded travel ban. The memo categorises countries into three tiers: red, orange, and yellow.

Citizens from the 11 countries in the “red” category would be entirely barred from entering the US. These countries include Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.

The list, put together by the US State Department, might be subject to change and still needs to be approved, reports noted.

Countries in the “orange” category would affect immigrant, tourist and student visas, with some exception. The list consists of Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Turkmenistan.

The countries in the “yellow” category would have 60 days to address concerns raised by Washington or risk being moved to one of the two more restrictive groups.

The category facing either indefinite travel ban or heavy restrictions list includes Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Vanuatu, Gambia, the Dominican Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo, Liberia, Mauritania, Malawi, Mali, São Tomé and Príncipe, Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Chad.

The White House has not publicly commented on the reported memo.

The list comes on the back of an executive order Trump signed on 20 January, which says it would protect the country and its citizens from “aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.”

The order required several cabinet members to provide recommendations on which countries should be included in the travel ban, according to reports.

During a press briefing on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump was asked which countries might be included in a new list concerning the executive order. Trump declined to answer, stating, “Wouldn’t that be a stupid thing for me to say?”

Biden repeals, Trump reinstates

During his campaign, Trump promised to reinstate the travel ban, which gained significant attention during his first term.

Back in January 2017, one week into his presidency, Trump signed an executive order titled “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States.”

The order barred the entry of Syrian refugees into the US and temporarily suspended entry for individuals from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

His 2017 decision led to chaos at airports and sparked protests nationwide over what its detractors dubbed the “Muslim ban”. Judges in several states quickly blocked the initial ban, citing discrimination against the countries on the list and violation of US immigration law.

The US Supreme Court later allowed a revised version of the ban, which continued to restrict entry for citizens from Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen. The Court upheld the ban in 2018.

When US President Joe Biden took office in 2021, he repealed the travel ban, describing it as “a stain on our national conscience” and inconsistent with the country’s history of welcoming people of all faiths.

This year, the new Entry/Exit System (EES) for the EU and Schengen Zone will finally be launched.

This will be a registration system for UK, US and other non-EU travellers and will only apply to those who don’t require a visa to enter the EU.

Coupled with this is the introduction of the ETIAS – the European Travel Information and Authorisation System – as part of the EU’s efforts to improve border security.

This travel permit was due to become a requirement for non-EU travellers in 2026, but it has been delayed yet again.

The EU now plans to introduce the ETIAS in late 2026 with a transitional grace period, meaning it won’t be mandatory until 2027.

What is the ETIAS?

Under the new ETIAS rules, travellers who don’t need a visa from non-EU countries, including the UK, will have to obtain authorisation before short stays in the Schengen Area.

This will require you to complete an online application, provide personal details, answer security questions and pay a €7 fee. This authorisation will be linked to the traveller’s passport and will be valid for three years or until the passport expires.

Travellers from 60 non-EU countries will need to comply with the ETIAS, but there are some exceptions. The fee will be waived for children under 18 and adults over 70, although they will still need to apply for authorisation.

When will travellers have to apply for the ETIAS?

The ETIAS cannot take effect until six months after the EES is fully operational at all Schengen Area borders. This means all airports, ferry ports and land crossings must have the system up and running before it can be launched.

Installing the new technology required for the EES has been dogged by complications and delays, with dozens of member states not ready for the planned launch.

As the EU has now decided on a phased rollout of the EES over a period of six months – coming into effect at the first borders in October 2025 – the introduction of the ETIAS has had to be pushed back.

It has said the ETIAS will start operations in the last quarter of 2026, with a specific date for the launch of the system coming a few months before. Even then it will remain voluntary for a further six months, meaning travellers may not have to pay the fee until well into 2027.

An area of southern Italy near Naples has been experiencing a surge in seismic activity over the last few days.

Campi Flegrei (Phlegraean Fields) is a volcanic caldera near Naples, Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii.

The volatile landscape was shaken by a 4.4 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday night which, together with a tremor in May, was the strongest in 40 years.

In May, hundreds of residents and the inmates of a women’s prison in the seaside town of Pozzuoli were evacuated and schools were closed.

Residents have been warned that evacuations may be enforced again if the seismic activity continues.

The government has earmarked €500 million for evacuations and safety interventions such as strengthening buildings.

If you are visiting Naples or the surrounding area, here’s what you need to know.

What is happening on the Campi Flegrei?

The Campi Flegrei is an active volcanic crater and the largest of its kind in Europe. The last major eruption of the supervolcano was in 1538.

Now, a buildup of magma or gases beneath the surface is causing an uptick in seismic activity.

The area experiences a phenomenon known as bradyseism, where the ground rises and falls due to under-surface pressure.

Though scientists say another eruption soon is unlikely, many of the roughly 500,000 people who live in the red zone directly adjacent to the Campi Flegrei say they live in constant anxiety.

Is it safe to visit Naples and Pompeii?

The Campi Flegrei lie around 20 kilometres from Naples. The southern Italian city has been feeling the tremors but there have been no casualties and or major damage to buildings.

Vesuvius and the archaeological park of Pompeii are also close to the volcanic crater.

The red zone, where residents would be evacuated in the event of an eruption, includes the towns of Pozzuoli and Bacoli.

Some suburbs of Naples also lie in the red zone including Chiaia and Vomero. The rest of Naples lies in the yellow zone – areas at risk of significant volcanic ash falls during an eruption – while Vesuvius and Pompeii lie outside.

In May, the UK’s Foreign Office updated its advice for travel to southern Italy.

“There are several active volcanoes in southern Italy. National emergency planning has been updated for Vesuvius as well as the Phlegraean fields, an area that remains active and which has experienced tremors in 2024.”

It advises travellers to follow the instructions of the local authorities in the event of an eruption.

If you are planning on visiting red or yellow zones, make sure you stay updated with the latest information on the Civil Protection Agency website.

Their instructions on how to prepare for volcanic activity including lava falls, volcanic bombs and mudslides can be found here.

Will there be evacuations from Campi Flegrei?

So far there have not been any evacuations, but they could happen.

The Italian government has put aside €500 million for evacuations and safety interventions such as strengthening buildings.

In May, Italy’s Civil Protection Department ran a series of planned seismic evacuation tests in the area.

The tests involved residents of Pozzuoli and Bagnoli, and simulated a ‘type-3 situation’ – the worst possible scenario in the event of an earthquake.