Top news clusters today

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The US-led military conflict with Iran has escalated after a ceasefire collapsed, causing regional instability, oil trade disruptions, and massive US munitions expenditures exceeding eleven billion dollars.

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 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.

NOAA reports a 69% chance of a historic El Niño event, with a 90% probability of a very strong phase in late 2026. The phenomenon threatens global food security and extreme weather patterns.

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.

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

Vice President JD Vance named low energy prices as the top US priority in the Iran conflict, followed by preventing nuclear proliferation, amid a naval blockade and economic pressure in the Strait of Hormuz.

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.

Iran has rejected President Trump's claims of U.S. control over the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that the waterway remains under Iranian management and requires Tehran's permission for safe transit.

Oil markets face volatility as US-Iran negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz stall. Despite a large US crude stock build, geopolitical tensions and low refined product levels threaten global supply.

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.

Five years into Taliban rule, Afghanistan faces a massive humanitarian crisis involving hunger for 14 million people, severe underfunding of aid, and systemic restrictions on women's rights.

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 Trump is pivoting toward economic warfare against Iran, citing 300% inflation and financial collapse. He also intends to demand war reparations during future peace negotiations.

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.

The Ebola outbreak in the DRC has spread to a sixth province, Bas-Uele, with over 2,100 deaths and 4,500 cases reported. The Bundibugyo strain is spreading rapidly, outpacing previous major epidemics.

The DRC is battling a record-breaking Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus, with over 2,000 deaths. The WHO warns the virus began in February, outpacing response efforts amid regional conflict.

President Zelenskyy warns of up to 50,000 North Korean troops joining Russia and urges the US to provide Patriot missiles to counter escalating ballistic attacks and prepare for winter.

Iran released a video of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to counter reports that he is in critical condition following injuries sustained in February military strikes.

The Pentagon has ordered defense contractors to accelerate weapons production following severe depletion of Patriot and THAAD missile stockpiles during the conflict with Iran.

Former Guerrero Governor Ángel Aguirre Rivero has been formally charged with forced disappearance in the Ayotzinapa case, accused of ordering the destruction of security footage from 2014.

US officials have threatened Iran with unprecedented economic isolation and a potential indefinite naval blockade, warning of significant global oil supply disruptions and market volatility.

Houthi rebels have escalated attacks in Yemen, striking a Saudi cargo ship and an Aramco refinery. The Red Sea strikes killed several people, including three Pakistanis, as the UN warns of a return to full-war.

The death toll from Venezuela's June 24 earthquakes has reached 6,301. Authorities are assessing thousands of homes, while engineers call for updated seismic building codes to aid reconstruction.

New Mexico judge orders Meta to pay $567 M for child‑safety harms, adds $420 M for treatment and mandates extensive youth‑protection measures; Meta will appeal.

The TSE restored Senator Flávio Bolsonaro's affiliation with the Liberal Party after a fraudulent registration with the Missão party blocked his presidential candidacy registration.

The UN reports systematic torture of Ukrainian prisoners and over 16,000 civilians held by Russia, with detainees reporting sexual violence, beatings, and electric shocks during an informal Security Council's.

The USS Abraham Lincoln faces scrutiny over reports of severe supply shortages and mental health crises among its 5,000 crew members during a record-breaking 250-day deployment in the Middle East.

Russia launched massive missile strikes on Ukraine, using North Korean and Zircon missiles to hit Zaporizhzhia and Kyiv. Ukraine seeks domestic Patriot missile production to counter increasing Russian missile's

Mount Etna's eruption has paralyzed air travel in Sicily, closing Catania Airport and affecting hundreds of flights. Ash clouds have reached Malta, causing estimated tourism losses of up to 24 million euros.

Lionel Messi has cast doubt on his professional future following the death of his father, Jorge Messi. The Argentine star expressed deep uncertainty about continuing football in a heartfelt social media tribute

Josh Kushner and Bob Iger have agreed to buy the Los Angeles Lakers for a record $12.5 billion, acquiring Mark Walter’s majority stake in a second ownership change for the team in under a year.

Donald Trump confirmed he used a catering truck and a decoy aircraft to secretly flee Turkey in July following an Iranian assassination threat involving potential shoulder-fired missiles.

Spider‑Man: Brand New Day set a new domestic $500 M record in 7 days, earned $1.155 B worldwide in its first week, and hit Rs 336 cr net in India, aided by a BMW partnership and multiple premium formats.

Vladimir Putin has threatened to seize European ships in retaliation for the seizure and sale of Russian cargo by the EU, calling such actions “piracy and robbery.”

Former Guerrero governor Ángel Aguirre Rivero has been arrested for allegedly ordering the destruction of evidence related to the 2014 disappearance of 43 Ayotzinapa students.

Ukraine conducted a massive drone and missile strike on the Novorossiysk naval base, damaging four Russian warships and major grain terminals while causing civilian casualties.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's first personal visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, including Iturup, has triggered a strong diplomatic protest from Japan, which claims the territory as its own.

A drone carrying Semtex explosives targeted a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle Airport. US officials suspect Russian involvement, prompting Germany to expand its Federal Police anti-drone units.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, a trilateral pact featuring a mutual defense clause similar to NATO's Article 5 to enhance regional deterrence.