Author: Hunter W.

Australia saw violent clashes between police and protesters in Sydney on Monday evening as people rallied against the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, prompting leaders to urge calm and call for peaceful expression of views.The unrest began when thousands gathered near Sydney’s Town Hall to oppose Herzog’s state visit, which comes shortly after a deadly mass shooting at a Jewish event at Bondi Beach in December that killed 15 people. As the crowd grew, police, equipped with powers granted under a special Major Events Act, moved in to clear the area when demonstrators refused to disperse.Police said they arrested…

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has refused to resign despite deep pressure from within his own party and beyond over his controversial choice to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States, a decision now engulfed in a scandal tied to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.The crisis has grown after new information from released U.S. Justice Department files revived scrutiny of Mandelson’s past links to Epstein and suggested potential misconduct while Mandelson held senior government roles. Although Mandelson was sacked as ambassador in September 2025, the fallout continues to damage Starmer’s leadership.On February 8–9, 2026, two of Starmer’s…

The United Nations is waiting for clear details from the United States on when it will pay its huge overdue bills and how much money it will send, U.N. officials said this week. The delay is stirring concern at the world body, which relies on member nations’ fees to operate.The U.N. is owed billions of dollars in unpaid dues, and more than 95 % of that debt comes from the U.S. alone, U.N. officials say. By early February, the U.S. owed about $2.19 billion for the regular U.N. budget, plus $2.4 billion for peacekeeping missions and tens of millions for…

Germany is planning a major boost to its military space forces, with ideas ranging from secure spy satellites to lasers that could disrupt hostile space systems. The goal is to protect the country’s interests in orbit and respond to growing threats from Russia and China.Under a €35 billion (about $41 billion) space spending plan, Germany will build a large network of satellites, including an encrypted military communications system called SATCOM Stage 4 with more than 100 satellites planned over the next few years. Officials say this secure network is meant to help Germany communicate even if civilian systems are unstable…

Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has scored a big election win after betting his campaign on national pride and security. His party, Bhumjaithai, led early results in the general election held on February 8, 2026, putting him in a strong position to form the next government.Anutin, 59, called a snap election less than 100 days after becoming prime minister. He urged voters to choose his party as the patriotic choice, saying he would “safeguard Thailand with my life.” His message resonated with many Thais, especially amid recent border fighting with Cambodia that stirred nationalist feelings across the country.Early results from…

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi won a clear and powerful victory in a rare winter snap election, giving her ruling coalition a supermajority in the lower house of parliament. This result boosts her ability to push through major changes in policy.In the February 8, 2026 vote, Takaichi’s coalition, made up of her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its partner, the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin), was projected to win well over the 233 seats needed for a majority in the 465-seat lower house. Early figures showed the coalition could secure as many as 328 seats, a very strong showing that gives…

Cambodia has asked France to share historical documents and maps to help settle a long-running border dispute with Thailand that has sparked deadly clashes in the past year. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet believes France’s records could offer reliable evidence of the original boundary, which France first drew when Cambodia was under colonial rule.The request was made in a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron, asking for access to historical and technical documents related to the 817-kilometer (508-mile) border drawn in 1907 by French surveyors. France’s colonial mapping was based on a natural watershed dividing Cambodia from what was then…

Oil prices dropped sharply on February 5, 2026, as traders reacted to news that the United States and Iran agreed to hold talks about oil and regional tensions. This eased some fears about supply shortages that had driven oil prices higher in recent weeks.On Thursday, Brent crude fell about 2.75% to $67.55 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude slid about 2.84% to $63.29 a barrel by the end of trading. These declines followed earlier volatility that had pushed prices up amid worries about supply from the Middle East.The planned talks between Washington and Tehran are set to…

Gold and silver prices rebounded sharply on February 3, 2026, bouncing back after a recent sell-off and marking one of the biggest daily gains in years. This sudden rise shows how volatile precious metal markets can be, but also why many investors pay close attention to them in uncertain times.On that day, gold climbed about 5.2 percent to roughly $4,907 per ounce, recovering from a recent low below $4,500. Futures for gold also jumped, with U.S. April contracts settling more than 6 percent higher. Meanwhile, silver rebounded about 4.8 percent to around $83 per ounce, after suffering large losses in…

Cuba has announced a big new plan to protect essential services and ration fuel as it deals with a deepening energy crisis triggered by U.S. pressure on oil supplies. The move underscores how the island nation is scrambling to keep basic services running while facing growing shortages.The government said it will ration fuel and guarantee limited supplies for vital areas such as health care, education, agriculture, water systems and defense. Officials presented the plan after warnings from U.S. officials that countries exporting oil to Cuba could face tariffs, a threat that has already reduced oil deliveries to the Caribbean nation.Cuba’s…