Aug 12, 2026, 08:30 AM UTC

Rescue teams in Colombia are searching through rubble following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck near San José del Palmar on August 10. The seismic event, centered roughly 107 kilometers underground, damaged numerous structures across multiple municipalities and was felt in neighboring Ecuador. A national state of emergency remains in effect as military units and emergency personnel clear debris to locate trapped survivors.

Casualty figures varied across initial reports as response efforts unfolded. Early counts placed the death toll at 20, while subsequent updates from local authorities and international monitors raised confirmed fatalities to 132, and later to at least 164, with over 500 people injured. Officials caution that casualties may increase as rescue teams reach remote areas.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă.

Ukraine's military is undergoing structural changes following the appointment of commander Mychajlo Drapatyj, who is working to reform internal command practices. Meanwhile, former top commander and current ambassador to the United Kingdom, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, claimed Ukraine "will never join" NATO, arguing that the alliance relies on outdated warfare strategies unsuited for modern conflicts.

Domestically, the Security Service of Ukraine reported disrupting dozens of Russian assassination plots targeting military personnel via online dating applications and fake invitations. On the battlefield, defense analysts warn of a difficult winter as Russian forces ramp up aerial attacks using jet-powered drones and accelerate the production of ballistic missiles beyond previous estimates.

Sources: Deník N, Ekonomický deník, Hospodářské noviny, Respect, Seznam Zprávy

Germany’s coalition government is confronting heightened political strain as public discontent and internal party divisions mount. In Saxony, thousands gathered in Plauen under the "Einigkeit für Deutschland" initiative to demand the federal government's resignation, accompanied by around 400 counter-demonstrators.

Concurrently, internal friction within the Social Democratic Party (SPD) intensified after its "AG Migration und Vielfalt" working group called for an autumn special party conference to replace current leadership.

The pressure comes as the latest Deutschlandtrend survey shows the Alternative for Germany (AfD) expanding its lead over the opposition CDU/CSU alliance, alongside growing public openness to issue-based cooperation. Meanwhile, official data from the Federal Interior Ministry indicates first-time asylum applications fell to 4,311 in July, representing an almost 50 percent decline compared to July 2025.

Sources: Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau

Global financial markets experienced divergent trends as rising crude prices and key financial reports shaped trading. Unresolved negotiations between Iran and Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz pushed Brent crude toward $90 per barrel, driving gains across Nordic energy equities. On the Oslo Børs, major producers such as Equinor, Aker BP, and Vår Energi registered strong advances alongside defense stocks.

Concurrently, Norway's sovereign wealth fund announced a record first-half return of 1,753 billion kroner for 2026, representing a 9.4 percent gain.

Conversely, U.S. stock indices declined following last week's record highs. The retreat coincided with 10-year U.S. Treasury yields rising to 4.7 percent and an uptick in market volatility indices.

Sources: Dagens Næringsliv, E24, Finansavisen, NRK, VG