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On October 31, 2026, Pope Leo XIV made history as the first pontiff to cast a vote in the United States (US) midterm elections . Eligible US citizens who live abroad, along with military service members, can request an absentee ballot and mail it back to their home city before November 3, 2026, the day of Election Day.

On October 28, 2026, two high-speed trains traveling from Madrid to Seville; Iryo 6076, which carried 147 passengers and Renfe AVE 2080, which carried 397 passengers, collided with each other at 8:53 a.m. , after a communication failure in three network computers knock the German LZB automated speed-monitoring system offline along a 39 mile stretch of track, causing the Renfe train, traveling at 124 miles-per-hour to rear-end the stationary Iryo train near Urda, Spain.

In only their second year of existence, the newly established WNBA team, the Golden State Valkyries, based in San Francisco, defeated the Atlanta Dream in seven games, 68-63, to claim their first WNBA title. Coached by Natalie Nakase, the Valkyries broke the record for becoming the fastest expansion team in pro sports to win a championship, ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks (three seasons), Arizona Diamondbacks (four seasons), and the Seattle Storm (five seasons).

On Friday, October 23, the 2026 World Series kicks off with Game 1 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the National League (NL) Champion Milwaukee Brewers will host the American League (AL) Champion Tampa Bay Rays. The Milwaukee Brewers, having swept the back-to-back champions Los Angeles Dodgers four games to none, and the Tampa Bay Rays, having beaten the 2026 AL Central Champions, Cleveland Guardians, four games to two, each look to win their first Commissioner's Trophy in franchise history.

On October 18, 2026, Austrian Airlines Flight OS82, carrying 51 passengers and six crew members, took off from Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion Airport, bound for Vienna International Airport in Austria at 7:04 PM. As the Airbus A320-214 approached Romanian airspace, the pilots squawked 7700, signaling a general emergency after they received a bomb threat, forcing them to divert to Sofia International Airport in Bulgaria, escorted by a Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet.

Ahead of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Opening Day on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, featuring the Boston Celtics versus the Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers versus the New York Knicks, and the Oklahoma City Thunder versus the San Antonio Spurs, three international games will take place during the regular season in Mexico City, Manchester, and Paris.

On October 19, 2026, the final Lufthansa Airbus A340-600 flight landed in Frankfurt, Germany, after a seven-hour-23-minute flight from Washington Dulles International Airport; operated as Lufthansa Flight DLH419, utilizing aircraft D-AIHW. After 23 years in service, the airline is saying goodbye to the -600 variant due to age, fleet modernity, and, most importantly, because the aircraft has become expensive to maintain.

Amid ongoing unrest in Paris, the National Football League’s (NFL) inaugural football game in France on October 25, 2026, is still on track to be played, involving the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Atlanta Falcons. The game is set to be played at Stade de France, the primary venue for the French National Football Team, and will be the sixth of a record-breaking nine international regular-season games for the 2026 to 2027 season.

On Thursday, October 15, 2026, Paraguay became the eighth Latin American country and 47th country overall to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. The IHRA, now headquartered in Berlin, Germany, was founded in May 1998 in Stockholm, Sweden, by former Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson to unite governments in advancing Holocaust education, remembrance, and research throughout Sweden and the world.

On October 6, 2026, Philadelphia Eagles’ Right Tackle, Lane Johnson, announced his sudden retirement from the National Football League (NFL) after 14 seasons to focus on his mental health , family, and personal goals. According to an Instagram post by Johnson, he cited, “Right now, I must focus on my mental health. I owe it to my teammates, coaches, the organization, and the fans to have my head and heart 100 percent in the game."

On September 26, 2026 , 21-year Major League Baseball (MLB) veteran Pitcher Justin Verlander retired from baseball after pitching in his final game in a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching 5.1 innings while striking out six batters.

On September 30, 2026, Fly Dubai Flight FZ1073 took off from Dubai International Airport, bound for Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, carrying 174 passengers and six crew members. At their cruising altitude of 34,000, the Co-Pilot, an Omani National, Hammam al-Hammami , stabbed the Captain with the cockpit’s emergency crash axe, Indian national Smit Machcchar, planning to take control of the flight and crash it into Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.

On September 6, 2026, Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman, known as “The Cuban Missile,” picked up his 400th career save, placing him ninth on the all-time saves list , as he closed out the Red Sox’ sweep of the Baltimore Orioles, 3-1. Chapman is one of nine players to reach the 400 career saves mark, but is also one of three active players with that mark: Kenley Jansen, pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, has earned 493 career saves, third all time, and Craig Kimbrel of the Kansas City Royals has 441 career saves, fifth all time.

On Monday, September 7, 2026, Nepal held a day of mourning to remember at least 1,342 people who died and more than 5,000 still missing after severe flooding swept through the Nepal-China border on August 26, 2026. Throughout the country, family members of those lost are performing cremations for a sense of spiritual release , while others are protesting the speed of the search, as hundreds of people were swept away by the Bhoteskhoshi River. In Nepal, 81% or 23,677,744 people are Hindu, making Nepal a Hindu-majority nation. Within the Hindu religion, mourning periods last 13 days, and on the 13th day, rituals are held to pray for those who have died.

On September 6, 2026, a Prime Air Boeing 767-300 overran Runway 30 at Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida, killing five people and injuring five others, after the aircraft came to a stop past the boundary fence. Just before 2:00 p.m., 21 Air Flight 7598 landed after a flight from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Global leading shoe brand Adidas is starting to face major backlash from the anti-Israel crowd after featuring Israel Defense Forces veteran Shalev Biton, who lost his left leg in a Hamas missile attack, in its latest Israel-localized campaign, which launched on August 26, 2026. This campaign allows amputees to purchase a single shoe, instead of two, at 50% the cost of a standard pair. Yet, anti-Israel protesters, Hollywood pro-Palestinian celebrities such as Javier Bardem, and BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) members are calling for the campaign to be removed and for Adidas to be boycotted.

On August 14, 2026, Japanese Artist Yayoi Kusama passed away at the age of 97. Born on March 22, 1929, Kusama began her signature use of polka dots and net motifs as a child, beginning in 1939. Following her death, major institutions across the world, such as the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, Japan, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, New York, issued formal commemorations, while artists described her work as visionary and redefining.

As of August 31, 2026, at least 15 people are missing, and one person has been confirmed dead due to heavy flooding that ripped through Grand Canyon National Park, located in northwestern Arizona. Before the flooding swept through the national park, a series of severe thunderstorms rained over Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area. So far, 62 people have been evacuated by helicopter , as the search for missing persons and evacuations continue.

On Sunday, August 30, 2026, former Los Angeles Rams Defensive End Aaron Donald sent a message to the commissioner of the National Football League, Roger Goodell, stating, “I’m Back,” arguably guaranteeing the Los Angeles Rams as 2026 Super Bowl Champions. Two years ago, on March 15, 2024, Donald retired from the NFL after playing 10 seasons professionally, but he signed a one-year, $20 million contract to return to Los Angeles, giving the team a shot at winning the 2026 Super Bowl and putting the league on notice.

On Wednesday, August 26, 2026, the United States’ State Department issued a memo to embassies around the world to increase synagogue security ahead of Rosh Hashanah, Friday, September 11, 2026, to Sunday, September 13, 2026, and Yom Kippur, Sunday, September 20, 2026, to Monday, September 21, 2026. This advisory has been sent because the risk of violent antisemitic attacks is imminent, as there were 6,274 incidents of antisemitic assault against American Jews in 2025, and in the first six months of 2026, 1,926 anti-Jewish hate crimes have taken place.

On August 26, 2026, the National Football League (NFL) announced that they are eliminating the Pro Bowl Games starting in the 2026-2027 season because the players selected don't want to play the week before the Super Bowl. For 75 years, the National Football League has held the Pro Bowl games, starting with a traditional 11-on-11 tackle football game, and in 2023, replacing it with a flag football game, which has continued to lower fan interest. With the erasure of the Pro Bowl game, the NFL will be the first professional league to eliminate its all-star game, leaving the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, and the National Hockey League all-star games continuing.

On August 26, 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the end of the Ebola virus outbreak in Uganda, which began on May 17, 2026, from the Bundibugyo Virus. During the 42-day outbreak, the nation reported 20 confirmed cases, with two people losing their lives. Yet, Ebola virus cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continue to grow, since the outbreak was first reported on May 14, 2026, in the Ituri Province. As of August 26, 2026, the DRC has reported 5,656 confirmed cases and 2,715 deaths.

On August 26, 2026, a glacier collapse in the warming Himalayan region between the border of Nepal and Tibet left at least 160 people dead and more than 1,300 people missing. A large chunk of a glacier and permafrost broke free in Lantang National Park in north-central Nepal and crashed onto the valley floor below. The impact of the glacier caused the equivalent of a 5.2-magnitude earthquake, which triggered the catastrophic flooding around Timure, Rasuwa, and Nuwakot districts near the border. With hundreds of people dead and thousands missing, the towns, cities, and villages in the border area of Tibet and Nepal are wiped out, leaving survivors without food, water, and electricity.

On August 26, 2026, the two major airlines announced the resumption of flights to Israel. Delta will resume daily service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on September 6, 2026, while United will resume twice-daily service from New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport on September 8, 2026. Because of the war between the IRGC, Israel, and the United States, which began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel conducted a joint operation to kill IRGC Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion Airport shut down for months, leaving its serviced airlines to cancel all service to Israel, including United Airlines and Delta Airlines.

On July 28, 2026, a Qantas Airbus A350-1000ULR took off from Melbourne, Australia, and landed in Toulouse, France, 24 hours and 24 minutes later, a new record for the skies of aviation. This journey covered 23,075 kilometers (14,338 miles) and was part of testing for the upcoming Project Sunrise, to be utilized by Qantas Airlines planes.

On Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 5:58 a.m., a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Flores region of Indonesia, killing 53 people. After the earthquake, 1,000 aftershocks and a potential tsunami warning followed, heightening the alert level in Indonesia’s coastal regions. Later, a 6.4 magnitude quake struck western Sumatra Island, Indonesia. 5,000 of Indonesia’s residents in the East Nusa Tenggara province were relocated to temporary shelters, as 1,350 homes were damaged or destroyed.

In July of 2026, astronomers at NASA captured an image of a black hole’s flare “devouring” a star on the outskirts of a galaxy. They captured this image using artificial intelligence, and it shows the galaxy some 250 million light-years from Earth.

Since August 11, 2026, seven people have died after at least six days of heavy rain have caused record-setting flooding along the White River in Indianapolis, Indiana.

On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, FIFA unveiled a proposal to outline plans to transfer its commercial and event business ventures into a brand new entity called FIFA Forward Enterprise. This move would sell a 20% stake to outside investors, who would raise a maximum payout of $4.2 billion. This proposed business acquisition has triggered repeated boycott threats from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), as its member associations have not been consulted. Furthermore, the league’s 55 teams would boycott all FIFA-led tournaments unless the project is completely abandoned, making this a make-or-break deal for the future of football.

At 37 years old, after 18 incredible seasons playing in the National Basketball Association, Russell Westbrook announced his decision to retire from basketball on August 12, 2026. Despite having free-agency interest from the Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards heading into the 2026-2027 season, Westbrook decided to retire due to his age, longevity, and family focus.

On August 14, 2026, 46-year-old Larry Montes, from the Bronx, New York, disrupted a Friday night Shabbat Service at Central Synagogue in Manhattan, New York. During the attack, Montes stormed the bimah and physically attacked congregants and security staff, leaving one congregant and one security team member injured and damaging property belonging to the synagogue. When the NYPD took Montes into custody, they charged him with two counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief, both categorized as hate crimes.

Anger erupted across India’s youth as India’s Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, was forced to resign on July 25, 2026, as entrance exam papers were repeatedly leaked. Fast forward one month, India stands at a pivotal crossroads as anger amongst Gen Z has become Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s biggest challenge. As nearly 700 million Indians are under the age of 25, the expectations and frustrations of youth protesters are shaping the nation’s political landscape. That said, due to the frustrating paper leaks, student protesters have voiced dissent against government policy regarding education and employment futures.

From July 30 to July 31, 2026, approximately 72,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish town of Ceuta from Morocco. At least 75 people died on the Spanish side, while 11 deaths have been reported in Morocco. Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska reported that an estimated 70,000 migrants have been returned to Morocco. This case has been widely shown to reignite debates on Europe’s border policies and mass migration.

Nine-year veteran of the Detroit Tigers and two-time Cy Young Award winner, Tarik Skubal, was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, August 1, 2026, in exchange for three prospects: outfielder Zyhir Hope, Right-handed pitcher River Ryan, and Right-handed pitcher Brady Smith. This trade comes after months-long rumors about whether the All-Star will leave the Tigers. Since beginning his career with the Tigers nine seasons ago, he’s pitched in 153 games, accumulating a win-loss record of 61-42, an ERA of 3.04, has pitched in 863.1 innings, struck out 1,005 batters, and has a WHIP rate of 1.01. This season, Skubal has pitched in 16 Games, has a record of 7-5, an ERA of 2.79, has pitched 96.2 innings, struck out 116 batters, and has a WHIP rate of 0.91.

On August 3, 2026, Filipino women’s tennis player Alex Eala defeated top seed Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 to claim her first career World Tennis Association (WTA) singles title at 21 years old at the CITI Open. With her victory, she has become the first player from the Philippines to win a tour-level singles title, along with the first Southeast Asian player to win at the WTA 500 level or higher. Over the course of two days, because of heavy rain delays, Eala became an inspiration for Filipino athletes, as her historic achievement elevated the country’s presence on the international sports stage.

Since New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani took office on January 1, 2026, hate crimes against the Jewish people have surged to record numbers, according to the New York Police Department. That number, 53%, has grown past the rate of shootings and murders within the past year, as the percentage reached a record low of 22.8%. Over the past seven months, Jewish residents of New York City have felt unsafe as synagogues have been attacked, violent pro-Palestinian protests have become common on the streets, and two stabbings took place in late July.

Since early July 2026, Mediterranean Europe has been devastated by severe wildfires, with France and Spain among some of the hardest-hit countries, causing over 300,000 people to evacuate. On top of the deadly heatwave that has lasted through most of the summer, these wildfires have burned over 500,000 hectares of land across the two countries.

On July 25, 2026, Berlin, Germany’s annual Christopher Street Day Pride festival turned into a scene of terror as Lebanese-German 21-year-old Abdul Ballout , pledging his allegiance to ISIS, drove a van into attendees, which left one woman dead and at least 29 injured. The suspect had a strong history of violent crime convictions, including an attempt to join ISIS in 2025 and sharing extremist propaganda.

On Tuesday, July 28, 2026, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in the Kyushu region of southwest Japan, resulting in severe destruction and displacement for thousands of people, leaving at least 18 people dead within the first two days of the aftermath across Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki.

A recent investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed the presence of the Cyclospora parasite in lettuce at Taco Bell restaurants across the country. This development has raised significant concerns regarding food safety, public health protocols, and the ongoing vulnerability of the food supply in the United States to help stop these outbreaks.

This summer, Europe has been hit with a severe climate crisis, as temperatures have risen. Within the crisis, European citizens and tourists have been affected by unprecedented heatwaves, extreme droughts, and rapidly drying soils. The overall situation has resulted in record-breaking temperatures, widespread stress on farmers and agriculture, as well as high death tolls and economic strain.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially come to an end, with Spain taking the reins as the new champion, defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final. Through upsets, global unity, and Cinderella runs, this tournament has been widely celebrated as one of the most remarkable tournaments in its history, as fans from all over the world came together to support the 48 countries across 104 matches in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, reinforcing football’s unifying power and marking a historic achievement for Spain.

Zohran Mamdani's vocal warning has sparked widespread debate on whether a public figure with this little seniority actually has the authority to follow through with the warrant. A Mayor in any capacity doesn’t have the authority, but this claim raises deeper questions regarding municipal authority, international law, and the boundaries of local government power within the United States. In July 2026, there have been multiple reports about New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly pledging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant against Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, once he visits New York City on September 23, 2026, to attend and address the annual United Nations General Assembly that week.

NBC San Diego oversees the shooting of three Muslims at the Islamic Center of San Diego. San Diego police responded to reports of a shooting at the house of prayer, perpetrated by two teenagers. According to multiple reports, eyewitnesses described a horrible scene as the San Diego Police Department established a secure perimeter and evacuated worshippers. The shooting involved the murder of three, and the two suspects are confirmed dead.

Jenipher Camino Gonzalez’s article outlines the recent anti-immigration protests, staged by far-right activist Tommy Robinson in early May of 2026. This is not the only rally Robinson has organized to protest England’s immigration policies. In September 2025, he rallied up to 150,000 people in London’s city center.

On June 1, 2026, Australia introduced new travel restrictions in response to a sharp rise in Ebola cases internationally. Australia’s Minister of Health announced that arrivals from multiple affected nations would face enhanced screening and possible travel bans. These newly announced measures hope to prevent the importation and potential spread of the Ebola virus within the country.

Since 2005, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement has been intended to place strong economic and political pressure on Israel by encouraging governments, individuals, and businesses to cut all economic ties with Israel and Israeli companies. Its overall intended goal is to influence Israeli policy, but the question of whether it has really worked remains up in the air.

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup beginning on June 11, 2026, one of Africa’s top football officials, Omar Artan, was recently denied access to the United States. This decision has sparked major debate within the global community about entry procedures into the United States, along with questions about inclusivity on the world’s stage.

On June 7, 2026, a Gulfstream G200 private jet took off from La Romana Airport in the Dominican Republic, crashed upon returning to the airport after declaring an emergency after takeoff. The aircraft was headed to Texas to pick up Former Major League Baseball star Yadier Molina. The incident killed both pilots and is currently under investigation.

On June 8, 2026, a magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck off the Mindanao Island coast in the southern region of the Philippines. Since the quake, at least 35 people have died, over 100 people have been injured, and thousands remain displaced. The seismic event, one of the most powerful recorded in the country’s history, has resulted in extensive residential and commercial damage in General Santos specifically.

Established in 2005, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement has become a leading force in the West behind multiple campaigns to boycott all Israeli products and businesses on the global stage. Its connection to Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) is strategic and a vital principle of their movement. IAW is an annual event that is utilized to amplify BDS’s three primary objectives: boycott, divest, and sanction against Israel, by framing the State as one of apartheid.

Thomas Mukhwana and Yang Tian’s BBC article discusses the recent outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), spreading across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In recent memory, the DRC has experienced multiple outbreaks of the disease, as the area has become prone to infectious disease crises. People who contract Ebola will experience fever, hemorrhaging, and multi-organ dysfunction, often leading to death. Furthermore, Ebola is spread from wild animals to humans, which has led to this ongoing emergency overseas.

Robyn Vinter and Angelique Chrisafis’ The Guardian article discusses the deadly Hantavirus outbreak on board the MV Hondius cruise ship. The ship was operating off the coast of Tenerife, Canary Islands, and Spanish authorities evacuated the vessel following the deaths of three passengers. While the ship’s passengers had to quarantine, panic began to spread across the world as people thought this would become another global pandemic.

Freya Barnes’ Daily Mail UK article discusses the never-ending trauma surrounding surviving Rwandan citizens of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide that took the lives of 800,000. Barnes focuses on the failure of Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame’s crumbling leadership, along with the international response. Taking the lives of nearly one million people, communities had to be rebuilt, families were torn apart, and a hole was ripped in the country’s history. Pledging “never again”, survivors were fending for themselves for support, as they failed to receive aid from local and international governments.

Drafted 9th overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2020 NBA Draft, Deni Avdija has become a breakout star for the Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per game during the 2025-2026 NBA season. This season, he was voted an All-Star for the first time, making him the first Israeli NBA player to accomplish that feat.

Mary Walrath-Holdridge discusses the April 7th release of American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson. For over a week, she was held hostage by an Iran-backed militia in Iraq. She was kidnapped on Saadoun Street in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad. Her kidnapping underscores the persistent dangers journalists face while reporting in the Middle East, specifically in conflict zones.

Joanna Partridge and Jillian Ambrose’s The Guardian article references the major disruption the current war between the United States, Israel, and Iran has on the Strait of Hormuz. After the ceasefire announcement, oil barrel prices dipped below $100, the first time this has happened since the Strait of Hormuz was closed. The strait is a major chokepoint for international energy transit, as 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through every year, translating to 17 million barrels daily. The war has seen tankers being attacked and stranded, and tanker movement has drastically decreased by 90 percent as of March.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to start in June, questions have arisen about Iran’s involvement due to the current conflict between the IRGC, Israel, and the United States.

Diana Chandler’s Baptist Press article showcases the tragic escalation of violence in Nigeria during the Easter holiday period as Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa killed people celebrating the holiday. Easter, traditionally associated with peace and community religious observance, was plagued by patterns of terroristic violence across the nation, on top of the existing violence that has rattled the country for over 10 years.

Jack Guy and Amarachi Orie’s CNN article draws attention to sponsors pulling out of sponsoring the Wireless Music Festival in the United Kingdom after Kanye West announced he would be performing, but he was blocked from traveling to the United Kingdom, leading to its cancellation. The rapper has been at the heart of controversy after he’s made multiple antisemitic comments, released a track titled “Heil Hitler”, and proclaimed himself a Nazi. The controversy in the West has become a backbone of debates about free expression and hate speech within the music industry and popular culture.

Kelly Ng, Khashayar Joneidi, and Daniel De Simone’s BBC article examines the escalating conflict between the United States, Iran, and Israel after former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in late February. Recently, a ceasefire between the United States and Iran was put into place for two weeks. After weeks of hostile retaliation and bombings by the United States and Iran, a ceasefire was arranged between the United States and Iran, while Lebanon and Hezbollah continue to send rockets to Israel.

Written by Reuters’ writers Laila Bassam, Tom Perry, Samia Nakhoul, and Maya Gebeily, this article discusses the efforts of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) regime to revitalize the military strategy of Lebanon’s key terrorist organization, Hezbollah. Since the beginning of Operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury in late February, the IRGC has been fighting a lonesome war, but recently, Hezbollah joined as they began to fire missiles into Northern Israel.

The Japan Times piece from March 25, 2026, talks about the ongoing global shipping threat occurring in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions between the IRGC and Israel, as well as the Houthis’ operations in Yemen. Lisa Baertlein and Jonathan Saul examine the complications with maritime traffic within the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.

On March 24, 2026, Lorenzo Tondo and William Christou wrote that Israel will potentially take over parts of Southern Lebanon as a defensive buffer. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a public statement that military operations in Iran and Lebanon need to continue after consistent strikes on Tel Aviv.

The current IRGC-Israel conflict has led to a heavy spike in oil prices across the globe. Since the war began in late February of 2026, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, which is a critical chokepoint for the world’s energy supply, as 20 percent of oil is transported through the Strait. As of March 23, 2026, US Crude oil prices have surged by 5.5 percent or $78.77 per barrel, whereas Brent crude prices have risen by 3.64% or $84.36 per barrel. As of now, this represents a 16% overall increase in price, but it will only go up.

Royah Hakakian’s The Free Press article dictates how the current war in Iran is the pivotal opportunity for Iranian Freedom. Over the last few days, the United States and Israel have killed top IRGC officials and destroyed key military infrastructure. Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Iranians have been persecuted by the IRGC. That being said, citizens of Iran have been violently killed during protests in the thousands, but this war is a vital opportunity for the fall of the IRGC.

Amir-Hussein Radjy, Sarah El Deeb, Kareem Chayeb, and Lee Keath’s PBS News article emphasizes Iranian’s across the world celebrating the death of former IRGC Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while others remain in fear of what will happen next. Operation Roaring Lion and Operation Epic Fury have so far brought eliminations within the IRGC’s hierarchy. The elimination of more than 40 IRGC officials who have brought terror and violence to innocent Iranian civilians for decades brings the people of Iran one step closer to freedom and the fall of the IRGC.

Emma Graham-Harrison’s The Guardian article, published on March 3, 2026, highlights the current situation in Gaza amidst the current war between the Iranian Regime and Israel. Harrison’s article outlines the Iranian military actions and how Gaza has been affected. Because of Hamas’ Massacre on October 7, 2023, Gaza is still facing regional crises regarding Hamas control.

Patrick Wintour’s The Guardian article from March 3, 2026, describes Iran’s escalating internal crisis amidst the war fought by the United States, Israel, and the Gulf States. He discusses how, although Iranian leadership officials have been killed and key military infrastructure has been destroyed, Iran is facing immense economic collapse, social unrest, and mounting military pressures. The war has so far prevailed successfully in terms of freeing Iranian citizens from the IRGC, but the surviving leadership is in a fight for survival.

During Operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury, more than 100 girls were killed in a strike when a missile struck the Shajare Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, Iran. Throughout social media and the news, there has been speculation about what exactly caused the strike. While some say the United States dropped a bomb in the surrounding area, others raise suspicion about that claim, but in reality, it was a misfired Iranian missile. As of March 2, 2026, the death toll has crossed 160.

On March 1, 2026, Ndiaga Diagne opened fire at a bar in Austin, Texas, killing three and injuring 14 others. The attack took place in Austin’s bar district, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating to see if he has any ties to Iran and the US-Israeli strikes. The suspect wore a sweatshirt with the labeling “Property of Allah,” as well as a sweatshirt embedded with an Iranian flag with the text “IRAN.” In the late hours of the night, Austin PD arrived and launched an official investigation.

Amidst the ongoing Civil War in Myanmar since 2021, the country was hit with a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in late March 2025. With thousands dead from the conflict, along with up to around 6,000 dead from the natural disaster, the country has seen an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Sky News UK reports that the military conflict, plus the earthquake, has put civilians at great risk.

After 14 years, Africa’s largest dam, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), is finished. Kalkidan Yibeltal’s article provides great insight into what it took to build the biggest and most powerful hydroelectric dam in the continent’s history. The GERD is located in Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz region, on the Blue Nile. This monumental mechanical engineering project will bring worldwide recognition to Ethiopia and over 5,000 MW of power per year to the country.

Michael Dobunski’s ABC article discusses a new social network just for artificial intelligence programs. The site, known as Moltbook, is a platform where AI programs can socialize with one another. Out of the 1.6 million “users,” all of them are AI agents, making this the first social network to be human-free.

Vanessa Buschschlüter and Ottilie Mitchell’s BBC article talks about the violence that occurred in late February across 20 Mexican states due to the killing of the country’s top drug lord, El Mencho. The resistance of his cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has caused a wave of panic across Mexico. The Mexican government has issued emergency alerts for Mexican citizens and tourists, as the country will continue to be flooded with armed confrontations, blockades, and revolts against multiple law enforcement agencies.

This article, written by The Times of India, discussed how Hollywood has transitioned from an epicentre of movies and television to a site of political division. It has become a recurring event at major award shows where actors are voicing their opinions about some political topics but staying silent on others, forming a double standard against the elitists. Some celebrities wear pins in support of Gaza; others wear pins in support of ICE, but amidst the horrors across Iran, in which the IRGC is massacring its own people, there has been absolute silence. This narrative amongst celebrities has become a trend known as selective outrage.

In August, 2014, the Yazidi community of Iraq, known as the nation's forgotten people, rooted in the Sinjar region, experienced catastrophic persecution from ISIS. During the massacre, terrorists invaded Sinjar, targeting thousands of Yazidi men, women, and children. The genocidal acts against men and older boys included mass executions, while thousands of women and girls were sold into sexual slavery, abducted, and sex trafficked. Since the invasion, thousands of Yazidis have fled to Germany, Georgia, and the Armenian region, escaping the continued fear of persecution and starting a new life.

The article from ABC News discusses Israel's ban on UNRWA and its humanitarian obligations under scrutiny in the Hague hearings. This is due to allegations that several staff members participated in the October 7, 2023 attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis and took another 250 hostages into Gaza.

Hamas’ October 7th, 2023, massacre in Southern Israel brought about great horrors and fear to the State of Israel, Jews across the nation, and all over the world. Following this, hundreds of pro-Palestinian encampments appeared on United States college campuses to protest Israel, but investigations revealed that these encampments have been fueled by billions of dollars in donations from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and other Middle Eastern countries.

Thomas Sankara, born on December 21, 1949, was a Brukinabé military officer and pan-Africanist revolutionary who served as the first President of Burkina Faso from August 4, 1983, until his assassination on October 15, 1987.

From the 1950s to the 1980s, claims began to emerge from post-war political enemies, Soviet anti-Zionist campaigns , and historical revisions that Zionism helped the Nazis perpetrate the Holocaust, 1933 to 1945. This claim has been cited based on the Haavara Agreement of 1933, which allowed some German jews to escape persecution by emigrating to the British Mandate of Palestine in exchange for a portion of their assets.

During an archaeological excavation in 2012, archaeologists discovered King Richard III's remains , the former King of England from June 26, 1483, until his death on August 22, 1485, beneath a Leicester City Council parking lot. After Richard III died, he was buried in the Grey Friars Church in Leicester, England, on August 24, 1485, but the friary was dissolved and demolished in 1538. Over the course of 500 years, the land shifted from a church to a municipal parking lot, causing his skeleton to be lost and later rediscovered.

From April 14 to 15, 1986, the United States Air Force and Navy conducted Operation El Dorado Canyon to bomb terrorist centers in Tripoli and Benghazi, Libya, which were disguised as military installations. This operation was conducted in retaliation for the Libyan-backed involvement in the April 5, 1986 bombing of La Bella discotheque in West Berlin, which killed two and injured over 200.

On May 29, 1453, the Ottoman Empire, led by Sultan Mehmed II, conquered Constantinople, ending the Byzantine Empire and its 1,123-year rule. On May 29, 2020, Turkey celebrated the 567th anniversary of the Ottoman Empire's conquest of Istanbul at the Hagia Sophia Grant Mosque as a turning point in the nation's and the world's history.

Written on July 22, 2022, this Der Spiegel article discusses the 2015 Panama Papers whistleblower leak, which leaked more than 2.6 terabytes of data, including emails and financial and legal records from Mossack Fonseca, a Panamanian law firm. The whistleblower, who went by the name of "John Doe," has broken his silence, stating that he was motivated by a sense of justice to expose how law firms facilitate the secret movement of billions of dollars, impacting politicians, celebrities, and business leaders worldwide in tax evasion and financial crimes.

At a vault at the Deutsche Bank on Mauerstrasse during the first half of 1945 in Berlin, Germany, a 1709 'Mendelssohn' Stradivarius violin was stolen as the bank was forced into liquidation under the Nazi regime, which fell on May 8, 1945. Although the identity of the thief remains unknown, an infamous instrument was found during the summer of 2024 by Carla Shapreau and is now known as the "Stella" in Japan.

On June 6, 1944 , General Dwight D. Eisenhower led troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada on the Normandy Coast beaches of Utah, Omaha, Gold, and Juno to free Western Europe from Nazi Germany during World War II.

From October 5, 1793, to January 1, 1806, the French Republican Calendar was introduced by Politician Charles-Gilbert Romme, alongside Poet Fabre d'Eglantine, mathematicians, and scientists, and was utilized to secularize time and society by removing all Christian and royalist influences during the French Revolution, May 5, 1789, to November 9, 1799. On January 1, 1806, France officially reverted to the Gregorian calendar.

For 15 years, Mexican security forces first tracked retired Colombian soldiers and military specialists operating within cartel regions. Since then, Colombian soldiers have been hired to fight in the Jalisco New Generation, Sinaloa, and regional factions of cartels to utilize their combat skills, bomb making, and more advanced military tactics. Since 2006, Mexico has recorded 360,000 homicides, with 18,000 in 2021 linked to the government's campaign against drug cartels.

On November 24, 1951, the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) was created to become the main driver of political Islam in the country. Since the 1969 Race Riots in Malaysia, the nation has seen a rise in religious conservatism , with the formation of Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM), founded by Anwar Ibrahim in 1971, to push for greater Islamization in the public, legal, and educational spheres.

Mirroring concepts such as femonationalism, exploiting gender equality, and homonationalism, exploiting LGBTQ+ rights, Judeonationalism is a term utilized to describe the strategic instrumentalization or co-optation of Jewish safety to marginalize or discredit other groups.

On October 25, 1945, 68-year-old Amy David was found bludgeoned to death at the Ring O'Bells pub in Coventry, England. 80 years later, the case has remained unsolved, making it West Midlands Police's longest unsolved murder case.

During the London Blitz bombing campaign by Nazi Germany targeting population centers, industrial sectors, and London docks, from September 7, 1940, to May 11, 1941, crimes such as looting, sales on the black market, and organized crime by underworld figures flourished.

In 2016, using advanced hyperspectral imaging to reveal the hidden pre-colonial text and images layered beneath, scientists discovered the Codex Selden at the Bodleian Library in Oxford, England , an artifact created in Mexico around 1556 to 1560.

In 1768, Joseph Wright of Derby September 3, 1734, to August 29, 1797 completed the painting "An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump." This painting is a classic of the Enlightenment Era 1685 to 1815, an oil painting that historians and art critics view as a precursor to modern art. Within the painting, Wright implemented a scene with monumental and theatrical importance, as it functions as a celebration of the Enlightenment and a reflection of the wonders of human knowledge.