Thomas Alvarez - World Editor 
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi prayed at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday, Aug. 15, marking the 81st anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. While Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi skipped the visit to avoid diplomatic friction, she sent a ritual offering to the site, which honors convicted war criminals. The visit by Shinjiro Koizumi comes … Read more
Construction workers in Belgium uncovered a buried stash of gold estimated to be worth more than $10 million while digging a new sewer system beneath a former brewery in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde. Police secured the 49 gold bars and bucket of coins in a high-security vault, launching an ownership investigation. Workers breaking ground for infrastructure improvements outside … Read more
Nearly four days after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 14, 2026, the death toll has climbed to at least 287 people, with hundreds more missing. Rescuers are racing against time in cities like Pereira and Cali, where tens of thousands of homes remain damaged or destroyed. Rescue operations in Colombia shifted … Read more
Colombia faces a massive reconstruction challenge after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck on Monday, August 14, 2026. The disaster killed at least 287 people, injured nearly 4,000, and left over 100,000 affected across western regions, testing newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella as rescue operations wind down. President Abelardo de la Espriella Proposes a … Read more
U.S. retail sales fell unexpectedly by 0.6% in July, marking the largest monthly drop since May 2025 as government tax refunds faded and consumer spending slowed across multiple sectors, according to Commerce Department data released Friday. After a spring surge fueled by government tax refunds, American consumers abruptly tightened their spending in July. Retail sales … Read more
Nigel Farage regained his parliamentary seat for Clacton on Friday, securing 63% of the vote in a special election. He defeated a crowded field of 34 candidates, including second-place finisher Count Binface. Hours after the result, parliamentary authorities confirmed that an investigation into an undeclared £5m donation has resumed. Nigel Farage returned to the House … Read more
U.S. retail sales fell 0.6% in July, marking the largest drop since May 2025 as consumers pulled back on auto and online purchases. Americans unexpectedly cut their spending in July, ending a solid demand run and pushing retail purchases down by the most in more than a year. The 0.6% slide reported by the Commerce … Read more
Fighter jets operating under NATO command shot down a foreign drone over eastern Latvia on Friday, in an interception that authorities linked to Russian electronic warfare activity. According to the country’s armed forces, the unmanned aircraft was destroyed over the Balvi region by an Italian Eurofighter jet taking part in the NATO Baltic Air Policing … Read more
Two Abu Dhabi National Oil Company tankers were attacked by drones while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday evening, prompting the United Arab Emirates to blame Iran for acts of piracy. The UAE Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as a flagrant violation of global energy security, while regional shipping faces ongoing disruptions. ADNOC Vessels … Read more
A Russian military officer described as a Ukrainian defector was killed in a bomb attack in Crimea, with a woman arrested for allegedly acting on Ukrainian special services’ orders. The death of Robert Shageyev, a former Ukrainian naval officer who defected to Russia during the 2014 annexation of Crimea, occurred in Sevastopol, the biggest city … Read more