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President Donald Trump suggested he would declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory after defeating Iran, a claim a White House official later called a joke. Iran rejected the assertion, maintaining its claim

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia has caused hundreds of deaths and massive infrastructure damage. The government has declared a national emergency and launched the ‘Fondo Milagro’ for reconstruction.

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia has killed 294 people and left 320 missing. The World Bank is providing $200 million for recovery as international rescue teams assist in the devastated regions.

Iran and Oman have agreed on a new shipping route map for the Strait of Hormuz, though security remains tied to the end of U.S. naval blockades amid escalating rhetoric from Washington.

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, centered in Chocó. The disaster has caused hundreds of deaths and injuries, widespread building collapses, and prompted a national state of emergency.

Iran faces economic collapse and political instability following a five-month war with the US and Israel, the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, and violent suppression of nationwide protests.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint as the U.S. claims full control while Iran maintains a blockade. Recent maritime attacks and reduced shipping traffic have driven up global oil prices.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is spreading rapidly across six provinces, killing one person every 30 minutes. The UN has released $30.5 million to support the response.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, a mutual defense pact providing collective deterrence similar to NATO's Article 5 to reduce regional reliance on the U.S.

NOAA and Berkeley Earth report a powerful El Niño is intensifying, with a 69% chance of being a historic event and a high probability of making 2026 the hottest year on record.

The US is threatening unprecedented economic isolation and an indefinite naval blockade of Iranian ports to increase pressure on Tehran, causing significant volatility in global oil markets.

A Syrian court has sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for crimes against humanity and war crimes. His brother Maher and cousin Atef Najib also received death sentences.

Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya is in Cairo for talks with Egyptian intelligence to discuss a Gaza ceasefire roadmap, ahead of a regional visit by US envoy Jared Kushner to resolve implementation disputes.

Jared Kushner, accompanied by Nickolay Mladenov and Tony Blair, will visit Israel and Egypt next week to advance a U.S.-backed Gaza peace plan following its rejection by Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Iran refuses to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without the lifting of sanctions and war reparations, prompting President Trump to demand compensation for decades of Iranian-linked damages and casualties.

The Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, is spreading at record speeds, with over 2,000 deaths and 4,400 cases reported as it threatens to become the deadliest in history.

Russia is reportedly executing a strategic plan to destabilize Moldova and weaken NATO and the EU by 2026 through hybrid warfare, vote-buying, and paramilitary training in Serbia and Bosnia.

Turkey's Parliament has passed a landmark law aimed at achieving a 'Terror-free Turkey' by allowing potential sentence suspensions for certain PKK members if the group disarms and dissolves.

A major cyberattack on medical software provider MyDr has leaked sensitive data of nearly 19 million Poles, including PESEL numbers and medical records, prompting urgent government warnings to freeze PESEL IDs.

Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected Donald Trump’s 15-point Gaza peace plan, insisting that the Israeli military will not withdraw until Hamas is genuinely and completely disarmed.

A record-breaking El Niño is developing in the Pacific, with a 95% chance of being 'very strong.' Experts warn of extreme weather, rising global temperatures, and significant impacts on fisheries and rainfall.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7, 2026, establishing a collective defense pact where an attack on one is an attack on all.

Turkey's Parliament passed a landmark law to facilitate the disbandment of the PKK, establishing a framework for weapon surrender and militant reintegration aimed at achieving a ‘Terror-free Turkey’.

Copernicus reports record-breaking July 2026 temperatures, with extra-polar ocean temperatures hitting 20.96°C and Western Europe experiencing its warmest June-July period ever.

A Polish pilgrim bus overturned on Hungary's M3 motorway, killing 12 people and injuring many others. Authorities suspect the driver fell asleep. Polish officials are providing consular and medical aid.

Moroccan security forces arrested nearly 300 migrants near Ceuta on August 15, thwarting a mass crossing attempt sparked by social media calls. Spain has reinforced the enclave with significant police and army.

US-Iran tensions escalate as diplomatic talks stall and Iranian strikes on a Bahraini naval base disrupt US military supply routes, prompting Gulf allies to reassess their security ties with Washington.

Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7, 2026, establishing a mutual defense pact where an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

President Zelenskyy warns that Russia is relying on North Korean troops and ballistic missiles to escalate the war, while also preparing for a mass mobilization following its September elections.

YPG-SDG officials have announced plans to dissolve their autonomous structure and integrate with the Syrian government, coinciding with new legal frameworks and political shifts in Turkey.

A massive wildfire in Belgium's Hautes Fagnes reserve has burned 1,600 hectares, prompting evacuations and triggering EU civil protection aid as the fire nears the German border.

The U.S. has sent NATO allies a questionnaire to measure their loyalty to President Trump’s foreign policy, potentially impacting future U.S. military deployment and base usage in Europe.

Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people, including children, in Ansar and Deir al-Zahrani. The IDF reported killing a senior Hezbollah commander in response to recent attacks.

A Spanish F-18 jet on a NATO mission shot down a drone that entered Romanian airspace near Galați. This is the fourth drone downed in Romania this year amid increased regional drone activity.

Hurricane Lala, a Category 1 storm, is impacting Hawaii's Big Island with heavy rain, flooding, and power outages. A state of emergency is in effect as airports and ports close across the islands.

Reports of food shortages, plumbing failures, and mental health crises aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have prompted calls for its replacement by the USS George Washington, despite denials from the Trump admin.

A cyberattack on the MyDr platform has potentially exposed the medical and personal data of 19 million people in Poland, prompting a state-led investigation and preventive security updates.

Ukraine launched a massive drone offensive targeting Russia, including 600 drones toward Moscow, while Russia responded with ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, causing multiple deaths

Hamas has reaffirmed its commitment to a 15-point peace plan proposed by Donald Trump, which calls for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the disarmament of militants, though Israel has rejected the terms.

Four Renaissance artworks attributed to Antonello da Messina were stolen from the MuMe museum in Messina, Sicily, during the Ferragosto holiday. Two panels were recovered, but others remain missing.

A massive wildfire near Omis, Croatia, has killed at least one person, injured dozens, and forced the evacuation of over 2,500 people, causing extensive damage to homes and infrastructure.

Gaza's healthcare system faces collapse as oxygen production stations, medical equipment, and generator fuel supplies reach critical lows amid ongoing blockades and infrastructure destruction.

Iran has set six major conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including lifting U.S. sanctions, releasing frozen assets, and paying war reparations, complicating ongoing talks with Oman.

A rapid Ebola outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain is spreading through eastern DR Congo, killing over 2,000 people. Authorities warn of containment failures and the risk of the virus spreading to South Sudan.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake and Puracé volcanic activity have caused widespread devastation in Colombia, leaving hundreds dead, thousands missing, and triggering regional emergency alerts.

July 2026 was the second warmest July globally and the hottest on record for the contiguous US, marked by extreme heat, record ocean temperatures, and widespread drought across the Northern Hemisphere.

President Zelenskyy warns that 30,000–50,000 North Korean troops are being deployed to Russia, while also reporting North Korean missile use in Ukraine and a successful $12.2 billion Ukrainian logistics strike.

NATO fighter jets, including Italian Eurofighters, shot down a foreign drone in Latvian airspace following an air threat alert. The incursion is attributed to Russian electromagnetic warfare.

The 2026 Brazilian presidential campaign has begun. A Quaest poll shows a statistical tie in a runoff between Lula (43%) and Flávio Bolsonaro (40%), while Bolsonaro has named Alfredo Gaspar as his running mate.