UNESCO Warns Global Education Aid Could Fall 30% by 2027 as Debt Costs Rise
UNESCO says education aid fell in 2024 and could decline by up to 30% by 2027, while debt payments exceed education spending in 113 countries.
International
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EU Entry/Exit System Registers More Than 145 Million Crossings Since April 10 Launch
The European Commission says the EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System has recorded more than 145 million entries and exits since becoming fully operational across the Schengen area on April 10, 2026.
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Pakistan Requires Approval for Foreign Reporting Outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi
Pakistan’s new Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines formalize registration and accreditation for foreign journalists and require prior government approval for reporting outside three major cities.
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Abelardo de la Espriella Takes Office as Colombia’s President After Narrow June Victory
Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia’s president on August 7 after narrowly defeating progressive lawmaker Iván Cepeda in the June election, adding to a conservative shift across Latin America.
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Russia and Ukraine Exchange Overnight Strikes, Leaving at Least Seven Dead
Russia and Ukraine exchanged overnight airstrikes on Aug. 9, 2026, killing at least seven people and injuring many others as competing accounts described civilian and military targets.
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EU Expands Russia Sanctions to Additional Crypto Services and LNG Transfers
The EU Council adopted new Russia sanctions on July 23, expanding restrictions on additional crypto-asset services and requiring recurring reports on Russian-origin LNG sent to third countries.
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FAO Releases July 2026 Food-Price Index Update as Global Supply Risks Persist
The Food and Agriculture Organization released its July 2026 Food Price Index update on Aug. 7, following a June reading of 130.3 points.
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Spain Wins 2026 FIFA World Cup After 1-0 Extra-Time Victory Over Argentina
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, with Ferran Torres scoring in the 106th minute at the sold-out New York–New Jersey stadium.
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INTERPOL and Europol Report 1,024 Arrests in 59-Country Trafficking Operation
Operation Global Chain identified 2,070 potential trafficking victims, opened 465 investigations and led to 1,024 arrests across five continents, according to INTERPOL and Europol.
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Ukraine Says Drones Hit 12 Russian Fuel Tankers in the Sea of Azov
Ukraine’s military said overnight drone strikes hit 12 additional Russian fuel tankers in the Sea of Azov, linking the operation to efforts to disrupt supplies to Russian forces and pressure occupied Crimea.
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EU AI Transparency Rules Begin Applying on Aug. 2, 2026
New obligations under the European Union’s AI Act require notices for certain AI interactions and machine-readable marks for covered generated or manipulated content.
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European Commission Fines AliExpress €550 Million Over Illegal, Unsafe and Counterfeit Products
The European Commission said AliExpress breached the EU Digital Services Act by failing to properly assess and mitigate risks involving illegal, unsafe and counterfeit products on its online marketplace.
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Haiti Sets Aug. 30, 2026, for Presidential and Legislative Elections
Haiti’s provisional electoral calendar schedules the first round of presidential and legislative elections for Aug. 30, 2026, with a second round and local elections set for Dec. 6.
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WHO Reviews Ervebo Vaccine Options for Bundibugyo Outbreak in Congo and Uganda
The World Health Organization is assessing whether the licensed Ebola vaccine Ervebo could offer cross-protection during a 2026 Bundibugyo virus outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
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WMO Says El Niño Has Developed, Forecasts Strong Event Through 2026
The World Meteorological Organization says El Niño has formed in the tropical Pacific and could intensify rapidly, raising risks of extreme weather worldwide.
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UN-Habitat Warns Cities Will Need 167 Million More Homes by 2040
UN-Habitat’s World Cities Report 2026 says cities face a projected need for 167 million additional homes by 2040 as affordability, climate exposure and access to jobs put pressure on urban housing systems.
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Lebanon’s Displacement Crisis: UN Says 40% of More Than 1 Million Have Returned
About 40% of more than 1 million people displaced by conflict in Lebanon had returned home by July 1, but the UN says returns must remain safe, voluntary and dignified as infrastructure and services remain damaged.
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UNESCO urges debt-for-education swaps as 113 countries spend more on debt service than education
UNESCO is calling on governments and international lenders to expand debt-for-education swaps, saying 113 countries now spend more on debt service than on education.
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IATA, European Airports Warn Schengen Border System Could Bring Four-Hour Summer Waits
Airline and airport groups say current waits of up to two hours could worsen during the 2026 summer travel season as the EU expands its Entry/Exit System.
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IMF Holds 2026 Global Growth Forecast at 3% as War and AI Pull Economies in Opposite Directions
The IMF kept its global growth outlook broadly unchanged, but warned that the Middle East war, stalled disinflation and financial-market repricing threaten the recovery.
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Pakistan Issues Foreign-Media Rules on Aug. 6, Drawing Censorship Criticism
Pakistan’s government has issued new guidelines governing foreign media organizations, formalizing reporting requirements outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. Press-freedom advocates warn the framework could give authorities greater leverage over independent reporting.
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Zambia heads toward Aug. 13 election as Hichilema’s economic record faces test
Zambia’s presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled for Aug. 13, with President Hakainde Hichilema seeking a second term amid cost-of-living concerns.