dominated by three major breaking stories: a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in western Colombia that has killed at least 254 people and devastated coffee-region cities Pereira and Cali; an escalation in the Ukraine war where a Russian strike using North Korean ballistic missiles killed seven workers at the Zaporizhstal steel plant in Zaporizhzhia; and a widening Middle East shipping crisis as Iran says the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed unless the U.S. accepts its conditions. In parallel, a Syrian court sentenced ousted leader Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for killings and torture, North Korea fired a ballistic missile eastward as U.S.-South Korea drills approach, and a South Pacific tsunami struck Samoa leaving at least 99 dead.
- Afghanistan: Taliban authorities said 298 families were returned from neighboring countries on Aug 10. The national team was in Ireland for a five-match ODI series seen as crucial for World Cup qualification.
- Albania: Defender Berat Djimsiti transferred to Saudi club Diriyah from Atalanta, after being named Albania’s footballer of the year in 2025 and 2026. Power operator KESH signed a €30M import deal for 434,000 MWh as drought forces 80% electricity imports.
- Angola: Belarus Deputy FM Valentin Rybakov visited Luanda Aug 10-11 to discuss tractors and agri-tech. State regulator ANPG and Sonangol announced a successful new well in Block 24.
- Argentina: Lithium Argentina AG scheduled its Q2 2026 earnings release before market open on Tuesday August 11 with webcast at 10 a.m. ET.
- Australia: Australia is among countries condemning escalating settler violence in the West Bank ahead of a UN Security Council open debate scheduled for Tuesday.
- Brazil: IBGE reported July IPCA inflation slowed to 0.07%, lowest July reading since 2022. Cosmetics group Natura reported Q2 net profit down 92% year-on-year on Aug 10.
- Burkina Faso: Government will raise diesel price from 675 to 750 CFA per liter from Monday. Water Resources Commission warned controlled spillage of Bagré Dam could start Tuesday Aug 11.
- Cambodia: First Lady Dr. Pich Chanmony Hun Manet distributed Health Equity Fund cards to 1,051 families on Aug 11, per AKP. Government denied Thai accusations of planting mines ahead of a border incident that injured three Thai soldiers Aug 9.
- Cameroon: Cameroon and Chad agreed to launch free mobile roaming by Aug 11, reviving the CEMAC initiative. Women’s national team celebrated reaching WAFCON semis after 1-0 upset over Nigeria.
- Canada: Canada is deploying aid and monitoring wildfire support as Mexico sends ∼100 firefighters to help battle the Okanagan wildfire in British Columbia.
- Colombia: Death toll from the 7.4 quake in coffee heartland topped 250, with 101 dead in Pereira and 95 in Cali as rescuers search rubble. Six airports including Pereira and Armenia remain closed due to damage.
- Cuba: President Miguel Díaz-Canel accused the U.S. of psychological warfare against Cuba at the opening of the 1st International Colloquium “Fidel: Legacy and Future” in Havana on Monday.
- Cyprus: State workforce reached 53,747 in July, up 0.6% year-on-year. Goods imports rose 11.9% to €1.289B in June while exports fell 9.9%.
- Egypt: Annual headline inflation expected to accelerate to 15.6% in July from 14.3% in June, per Reuters poll ahead of CAPMAS data release.
- Estonia: Coalition lost its parliamentary majority after two MPs defected, leaving PM Kristen Michal with 50 seats in the 101-seat Riigikogu.
- Ethiopia: Government suspended new electricity licenses for crypto mining due to capacity constraints, reported Aug 11.
- Germany: Security concerns rose after a booby-trapped drone was found on tarmac at Leipzig Airport Aug 5. Germany is demanding a €400bn cut to the EU Commission’s €2 trillion 2028-2034 budget proposal.
- Ghana: Works and Housing Minister Kenneth Gilbert Adjei was named defence minister after last year’s helicopter crash. Hearts of Oak withdrew from the GHALCA Top 4 tournament on Aug 11.
- Greece: Very high wildfire risk alert issued for five regions on Tuesday Aug 11 as strong Meltemi winds build ahead of Aug 15 holiday.
- Guatemala: Fuego Volcano continued explosive activity on Tuesday Aug 11, with ash emissions monitored by INSIVUMEH.
- Guinea: State-owned Nimba Mining will market bauxite via monthly tenders, mines minister said Tuesday. Calm returned at Sorlumba border after tense encounter with Liberian immigration.
- Iran: The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed unless U.S. changes behavior and meets Iran’s conditions, Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei said Tuesday. President Trump said he is considering letting Iran fail economically or hitting it “really hard.”
- Japan: Manufacturers’ sentiment rose to +18 in August Reuters Tankan, highest since March, driven by semiconductor demand.
- Kenya: Stanbic PMI rose to 51.3 in July, showing private sector expansion, though inflation and logistics limited growth.
- Kuwait: Cabinet approved draft law regulating drones and light sport aircraft on Aug 11 and referred it to the Amir.
- Malawi: Fourth nationwide polio vaccination campaign runs Aug 11-14 targeting over 7 million children under 10 with door-to-door oral vaccines.
- Malaysia: Chelsea FC faces Johor Darul Ta’zim at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Aug 11 as final stop of Asia-Pacific tour. Parliament holds special session Aug 11 to debate Royal Commission findings on Tabung Haji.
- Maldives: Search entered fifth day for three sailors missing from sunken supply vessel Friend Four, covered in Good Morning Maldives Aug 11 edition.
- Malta: Ash cloud from Mount Etna drifted over Malta on Aug 11 forcing some flight cancellations at peak tourism season.
- Mexico: INEGI reported Class 8 truck production jumped year-on-year in July. Government dispatched about 100 firefighters to help with Canadian wildfires.
- New Zealand: New 85km Milford Track extension opens Aug 12 with permits capped at 120 walkers per day.
- Nigeria: Organised labour set Aug 11 deadline for federal government to address wage commitments or face industrial unrest. QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit opened second edition in Lagos Aug 11.
- North Korea: Fired an unidentified ballistic missile eastward on Tuesday, per South Korean military, ahead of U.S.-South Korea joint drills Aug 17-27.
- North Macedonia: Crisis Management Center issued code red wildfire warning for eastern, central and southern regions on Aug 10.
- Norway: Part of broader Nordic monitoring of solar eclipse partial visibility on Aug 11-12.
- Oman: EDF-led consortium reached financial close for 120 MW Jaalan Bani Bu Ali wind project on Aug 11. A container ship reported missile hit in Gulf of Oman on Tuesday.
- Pakistan: Four-team 50-over tournament in Multan runs Aug 11-18 to build pipeline for World Cup 2027. Defence Minister said Pakistan sees signals of nearing arrangement on Hormuz.
- Samoa: Massive tsunami triggered by South Pacific earthquake flattened villages in Samoa and American Samoa on Aug 11, leaving at least 99 dead and dozens missing.
- Saudi Arabia: Saudi Aramco cut Arab Light official selling price to Asia to $1.50 below Oman/Dubai for August, biggest drop in two decades. On Aug 7, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed joint defence framework in Mecca.
- Senegal: African Development Bank approved 20-billion CFA ($35m) to strengthen public finance management amid debt crisis.
- Serbia: Will make part of NIS refinery available to domestic firms in August due to high demand and low Danube levels. U.S. OFAC waiver allows crude imports until Aug 28.
- Syria: Court sentenced Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia on Tuesday for premeditated murder, torture and crimes against humanity. It is the first conviction since his ouster in Dec 2024.
- Ukraine: Seven killed and 24 injured when Russian forces hit Zaporizhzhia’s Zaporizhstal plant with Zircon and North Korean ballistic missiles. Zelenskiy said Moscow is preparing escalation, not peace.
- United Kingdom: REC/KPMG labour survey showed permanent placements rose to 50.0 in July, ending 45-month downturn. Amber heat health alerts in effect 9am Aug 11 to 9am Aug 14 with 36°C forecast.
- United States: Federal judge blocked USPS restrictions on mail-in voting on Aug 11, while President Trump weighed Iran options. $15.5M allocated for Colombia quake relief.
- Venezuela: United Airlines resumed daily Houston-Caracas flights on Aug 11 after eight-year hiatus using 737 MAX 8, after U.S. lifted 2019 ban.
- Vietnam: Ten fishermen rescued Aug 11 after two days adrift in basket boats after Storm Mindulle sank their trawler.
- European Union: Security Council open debate expected Tuesday on Israeli settler violence in West Bank. EU Commission’s €2 trillion budget faces pushback from Germany demanding €400bn cut.
