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A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia in South America, causing widespread destruction. Preliminary assessments indicate that numerous homes, commercial buildings and public facilities collapsed or suffered severe damage, leaving affected areas devastated. As search-and-rescue operations continue, the death toll has surpassed 100, with many others injured. Some people are still reportedly trapped beneath the rubble, and the number of casualties could rise further.

The strong tremor struck while many people were asleep or at work, sending panicked residents rushing into the streets for safety. Some older buildings were unable to withstand the intense shaking and collapsed almost instantly. Streets were littered with bricks, concrete debris and shattered glass, while transportation and communications were temporarily disrupted. Power outages were reported in several areas, and hospitals were overwhelmed with injured people, prompting medical workers to mobilize additional staff for emergency treatment.

The Colombian government immediately activated its emergency response system, deploying military and police personnel, firefighters and rescue teams to the hardest-hit areas. Rescue dogs and heavy machinery were used to search collapsed buildings for possible survivors. Damaged roads and frequent aftershocks have made rescue efforts more difficult. Authorities have urged residents to stay away from damaged structures to prevent secondary collapses and further casualties.

Preliminary estimates indicate that more than 1,000 buildings have collapsed or sustained varying degrees of damage, leaving many residents homeless. Some have been temporarily sheltered in schools, sports stadiums and emergency shelters set up by the government. Authorities are rushing to deliver drinking water, food, medicine, tents and other essential supplies to affected communities.

Colombia is located in a seismically active region with complex geological structures. Powerful earthquakes can trigger secondary disasters such as landslides, rockfalls and road disruptions. As rescue operations continue, authorities say they will do everything possible to locate and save those trapped while assessing the safety of buildings and infrastructure in affected areas. The devastating earthquake has left Colombia facing major humanitarian and reconstruction challenges.

Kumamoto City officials announced on August 10 that Kumamoto Castle, which was temporarily closed following a recent strong earthquake, is expected to reopen to visitors on August 13 after completing final safety inspections.

Kumamoto Castle was severely damaged in the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake and has remained under restoration ever since. The July 28 earthquake caused around 40 additional areas of damage, including the collapse of several sections of stone walls and cracks appearing on the walls of the castle keep. Kumamoto Mayor Kazufumi Onishi said the castle is an important symbol of post-disaster reconstruction and expressed hope that its reopening would help boost local recovery and tourism.

The city government said the main visitor routes within the castle grounds have been confirmed to be generally safe. If the final safety checks are completed by August 12, the castle will reopen as scheduled on August 13. To help affected residents relieve stress and provide families with a place for recreation, the Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens will also offer free admission for three consecutive days, from August 12 to 14.

Kumamoto Castle officials said safety barriers will be installed in areas where stone wall repairs and structural reinforcement work are still underway. Visitors will be required to follow on-site instructions and designated routes.

Despite continued progress in post-earthquake recovery efforts, the Japan Meteorological Agency has warned that seismic activity in the Kumamoto region has not yet fully subsided. Since the earthquake last month, a total of 590 earthquakes with a seismic intensity of 1 or higher have been recorded in the area.

The agency said the probability of an earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of 5-lower or stronger occurring over the next month remains about 30 times higher than normal. The likelihood of an earthquake reaching 5-upper or stronger is also about 50 times higher than usual. Authorities are urging residents to avoid dangerous areas and remain alert to further earthquakes and changes in weather conditions.

The Japanese government has begun considering the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) capable of accessing the source servers from which cyberattacks are launched and neutralizing their ability to cause harm. Japan’s Ministry of Defense also plans to introduce software in 2027 for equipment operated by the Air Self-Defense Force, including radar systems and fighter jets, to detect and block cyberattacks.

As advanced AI systems with powerful vulnerability-detection capabilities, such as Claude Mythos, emerge, concerns are growing that such technology could be exploited maliciously to launch cyberattacks. In response, the Japanese government plans to use advanced AI with comparable capabilities to strengthen the country’s cyber defense.

Yoichi Iida, Japan’s Cabinet Cybersecurity Officer at the National Cybersecurity Office, said the government formally decided at a Cabinet meeting in March to implement the relevant system starting October 1. He stressed that the use of AI in active cyber defense is inevitable. While measures to neutralize the ability of attackers to cause harm are being considered, he said the government has entered a phase of studying how to automate responses, on the condition that humans remain involved in making final decisions.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense is accelerating related measures to prevent disruptions to critical functions and maintain deterrence.

Amid increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks, the new measures are designed to detect anomalies in individual pieces of equipment in real time and prevent damage from spreading. The system is expected to be gradually expanded to other types of equipment.

The software will assign each individual device a tamper-resistant electronic ID for authentication, clearly distinguishing legitimate equipment from counterfeit devices using stolen or falsified identities.

The software will also monitor the activity of each device. If it detects unauthorized external access or a virus intrusion, it will automatically cut off communications to prevent damage from spreading from a single device to surrounding systems. Communications will be strictly limited to the minimum necessary connections, making it more difficult for attackers to infiltrate the network.

Over the next five years, AI systems are expected to become a key element in transforming Japan’s defense capabilities to adapt to new forms of warfare. The Self-Defense Forces have not yet adopted AI for command and control, but the government is considering introducing multiple AI systems to support operational decision-making.

However, the use of AI systems would require the Self-Defense Forces to provide classified information, raising concerns over whether foreign companies could gain access to sensitive data. To mitigate these risks, the Japanese government hopes eventually to replace foreign technologies with domestically developed AI systems.

A serious school shooting occurred in Thailand on the 7th, when a student allegedly killed his grandparents before taking a gun to a school on the outskirts of Bangkok and opening fire. The attack left nine people dead and 23 others injured. The 14-year-old suspect subsequently died by suicide. The incident is being described as Thailand’s deadliest shooting since 2022, reigniting debate over gun control in the country.

On the morning of the 7th, gunfire was reported at the Nonthaburi campus of Debsirin School, located near Bangkok. Investigators said the gunman fired at least 26 rounds inside the school and was carrying more than 30 rounds of ammunition. Unlike many school shooting cases, the 14-year-old suspect allegedly first killed his grandparents at home before going to the school and shooting teachers and students. He eventually shot himself, but not before killing at least five school staff members.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the teenager was under excessive academic pressure and described the attack as deliberate and premeditated. Local media reported that the suspect’s parents were divorced and that he had been raised by his grandparents. Classmates reportedly said he was frequently mocked and bullied by other students. Other reports indicated that, one day before the shooting, the teenager had allegedly been locked inside a school restroom by other students. Police believe he brought a firearm registered to his grandfather onto the school grounds and may have intended to attack classmates who had bullied him. However, after teachers evacuated students from their classrooms, the teachers themselves became targets.

The shooting has sparked widespread debate in Thailand and renewed attention to school bullying. A survey reported by Thai media found that 29% of young people in the country feel lonely, 14% frequently experience stress, and 7% of children and adolescents are dissatisfied with their lives.

The incident has also raised questions about how the suspect was able to obtain access to a legally registered firearm and renewed calls for tighter gun control. Thailand has one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia. According to Agence France-Presse, there are an estimated 10 million firearms in the country—roughly one gun for every seven people. Although the government has repeatedly pledged to strengthen gun controls, shooting incidents continue to occur. Analysts say low public trust in law enforcement and concerns over personal security are among the factors contributing to Thailand’s high rate of gun ownership.

Local media have also pointed to broader social problems, including the breakdown of traditional family structures, inadequate school warning systems, limited psychological counseling resources and lax firearms management. Critics argue that these weaknesses have made it difficult for existing institutions to identify and intervene in troubled youths at an early stage.

The case has therefore raised concerns that lone-wolf attacks involving troubled young people could become an emerging social challenge in Thailand, highlighting the need for stronger anti-bullying measures, better mental-health support in schools and stricter controls over access to firearms.

Researchers at Stanford University in the United States have used generative artificial intelligence (AI) to design synthetic viruses capable of killing E. coli. The achievement marks the first known instance of AI being used to create viruses that do not exist in nature. While the breakthrough offers new hope for advances in medicine, it has also raised concerns that the technology could be misused to create dangerous pathogens or even biological weapons.

The researchers developed a generative AI system called Evo 2, which can write new genomes. Using the system, they designed and produced 16 synthetic bacteriophages that successfully killed E. coli without posing a threat to humans.

The achievement represents an important turning point in biological design. Evo 2 is an open-source AI model that anyone can download for free and use to design new genomes. The technology could help drive a resurgence of phage therapy and potentially usher in a new era of disease treatment and synthetic biology.

However, governments and scientific institutions have been slow to establish safeguards against the misuse of AI. Some experts worry that existing regulations and protective measures are inadequate to oversee generative genomics, and the findings have raised “urgent biosecurity and biosafety concerns.” The question is no longer whether generative AI will be used to design viral genomes, but whether the technology can be used without “causing serious harm.”

U.S. Customs officials submitted a report to the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) on August 4, confirming that the government has refunded approximately $100 billion in tariffs collected under the previously imposed "Liberation Day" tariffs. The refunds follow a February 2026 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which found that President Donald Trump had unlawfully exceeded his authority by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping tariffs. The Court ordered the federal government to return the collected duties to the importers who had paid them.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) launched an online integrated management portal known as CAPE in April to allow importers to submit refund claims. The refunds are being paid directly to the businesses and small business owners that originally paid the tariffs; individual consumers are not eligible to apply. However, some companies are expected to pass part of the refunded costs on to customers through lower prices or compensation programs. The returned funds have already strengthened many corporate balance sheets during the second quarter of this year, with analysts estimating that they could boost annual corporate profits by as much as 5%.

The $100 billion in refunds represents roughly 60% of the $165 billion in tariffs previously collected by the government. The repayments have also had a significant fiscal impact, with recent federal customs revenue turning negative and contributing to the expansion of the federal budget deficit to $1.37 trillion during the first nine months of the current fiscal year.

In response, the Trump administration has shifted to alternative legal authorities—including Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974—to reimpose tariffs on dozens of countries over issues such as forced labor and industrial overcapacity, aiming to preserve its trade protection agenda. Legal challenges against this new round of tariffs are already underway, with attorneys general from 25 states jointly filing lawsuits alleging that the administration is attempting to circumvent the Supreme Court's ruling in order to continue its tariff-based revenue policy.

On the 5th, South Korean police conducted a search and seizure operation at Starbucks Korea's headquarters in Seoul. The investigation is focused on determining whether those responsible for the company's "Tank Day" marketing campaign in May intentionally sought to insult the victims of the 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement. Starbucks Korea's parent company, Shinsegae Group, has argued that portions of the promotional copy were generated by artificial intelligence (AI) and that managers failed to thoroughly review the attached materials during the approval process. However, police plan to examine the seized evidence to determine whether this explanation is a genuine account or an attempt to evade responsibility.

The controversy began during this year's 46th anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising, when Starbucks Korea launched a promotional campaign for a large-capacity insulated tumbler under the name "Tank Day." Given the historical significance of the anniversary, the use of the word "tank" immediately evoked memories of the military's use of tanks during the violent suppression of the 1980 Gwangju uprising. The campaign's slogan, "Tak! on the desk," further fueled criticism, as it appeared to reference the infamous government cover-up following the 1987 death of Seoul university student Park Jong-chul, who died under police torture. At the time, authorities falsely claimed that he had simply "collapsed with an 'ah' after someone banged on the desk."

Additional aspects of the campaign also drew scrutiny. The tumbler's 503-milliliter capacity matched the inmate number of former President Park Geun-hye; the 21% discount was seen as referencing May 21, the date martial law forces opened fire on civilians during the Gwangju Uprising; and the 10:00 a.m. launch time coincided with the time when the first major clashes erupted outside Chonnam National University in 1980. Critics argued that these and other details resembled the coded symbols and inside jokes commonly used by the far-right online community Ilbe Storehouse, which has frequently been accused of mocking the Gwangju victims.

Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin, former Starbucks Korea CEO Son Jeong-hyun, and other marketing executives have been formally charged by organizations representing victims of the Gwangju movement. They are accused of violating the Special Act on the May 18 Democratization Movement (including historical distortion and defamation), as well as charges of insult and criminal defamation. Chairman Chung Yong-jin has publicly apologized on multiple occasions, including bowing three times during a televised apology. Former CEO Son Jeong-hyun was dismissed from his position, and Starbucks Korea ordered all more than 2,000 stores nationwide to close for half a day so employees could undergo mandatory training on historical awareness and social sensitivity.

Europe continues to grapple with an intense heatwave and prolonged drought, driving water levels in the Danube River to their lowest on record. The crisis has not only severely disrupted river shipping but has also sparked growing concerns over energy security. Romania, Hungary, and Serbia have all experienced declining electricity generation, while two nuclear power plants that rely on the Danube for cooling have been forced to reduce output or partially shut down their reactors.

In an extraordinary effort to keep the country's last operating reactor online, the Romanian military reportedly deployed naval forces to blast riverbed rocks with 180 kilograms of explosives, redirecting water flow toward the cooling intake. The unprecedented operation underscores how the drought has escalated into a matter of national energy security.

This summer, Europe has been battered by persistent extreme heat, with temperatures repeatedly reaching record highs across several countries. Beyond disrupting daily life, the prolonged lack of rainfall has caused river levels to fall dramatically. Along sections of the Danube—which stretches across much of Central and Eastern Europe—the river has visibly dried up, hindering shipping, straining agricultural irrigation, and threatening the operation of nuclear power plants that depend on river water for reactor cooling. The situation has raised widespread concerns over the stability of Europe's energy supply.

As Europe's second-longest river, the Danube is a vital artery for transportation, water resources, and industrial activity. Under the combined impact of heat and drought, water levels in some stretches have fallen to their lowest point in decades. Many cargo vessels have been forced to reduce their loads due to insufficient draft, while others have suspended operations altogether. As a result, the transportation of coal, oil, agricultural products, and other commodities has slowed, placing renewed pressure on regional supply chains.

Even more concerning is the impact on nuclear power generation. As river levels continue to fall and water temperatures rise, nuclear plants that use river water to cool their reactors are facing mounting operational challenges. Nuclear facilities require a sufficient supply of cooling water to operate safely. If river flow becomes inadequate, or if the discharge of heated cooling water would cause river temperatures to exceed environmental limits, operators may be required to reduce power output or temporarily shut down reactors to ensure nuclear safety and protect aquatic ecosystems.

Energy analysts note that while Europe has made significant progress in advancing its energy transition in recent years, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events has exposed the vulnerability of its energy infrastructure to climate change. With hydropower generation reduced by drought and nuclear power constrained by cooling requirements, some countries may have little choice but to increase their reliance on natural gas- or coal-fired power plants to maintain electricity supplies, potentially complicating efforts to achieve carbon reduction targets.

Meteorological agencies warn that high temperatures are expected to persist across parts of Europe over the coming days, while rainfall is likely to remain limited, making any near-term improvement in drought conditions unlikely. The European Union has called on member states to strengthen water resource management, improve the flexibility of energy dispatch systems, and continue investing in climate-resilient infrastructure to reduce the impact of extreme weather on transportation, energy systems, and the broader economy.

Experts also caution that as global warming intensifies, severe heatwaves and prolonged droughts are likely to become more frequent. Balancing energy security with climate adaptation is therefore expected to become one of the most pressing challenges facing European nations in the years ahead.

This summer, wildfires and heatwaves have swept across much of Europe, leaving an economic toll of more than €3 billion (approximately NT$112 billion) so far, according to an analysis by the Financial Times. The losses have already exceeded the European Commission's estimated annual average disaster cost of €2.5 billion for the European Union. In the five hardest-hit countries—including Portugal, Greece and Romania—nearly 500,000 hectares of land were scorched during the first two months of the wildfire season alone, with damages reaching €3.1 billion, underscoring the growing impact of extreme weather across Europe.

Beyond the direct destruction caused by wildfires, prolonged drought and extreme heat have also disrupted key sectors of the European economy. Falling water levels on the Rhine and Danube rivers have hindered freight transport and forced factories to reduce production, affecting Germany's chemical industry as well as energy supplies across Central and Eastern Europe. In France's Gironde department, wildfire outbreaks have led to shutdowns and evacuations that disrupted the defense, aerospace and tourism industries. Spain has reported damage to more than 18,500 hectares of farmland. Meanwhile, several nuclear power plants in Hungary and Romania have reduced output or temporarily suspended operations due to insufficient cooling water, adding pressure to regional energy supplies.

Climate economists warn that the true economic cost of this year's wildfires may already be more than three times the average annual level. They note that indirect losses—including rising insurance premiums, declining tourism revenues and increased healthcare costs linked to air pollution—have yet to be fully accounted for. Experts emphasize that while post-disaster reconstruction may generate short-term economic activity, it does not represent genuine economic growth but rather the replacement of destroyed capital. With Europe warming faster than the global average, the economic and social costs of increasingly frequent extreme weather events are expected to continue rising.

Washington State is experiencing its fourth consecutive year of statewide drought. Fueled by strong winds and extremely dry conditions, the Old Trails Fire has been raging near Spokane in eastern Washington. The wildfire has crossed the Spokane River, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate, prompting the evacuation of several critical facilities, and leaving approximately 60,000 customers without power.

According to reports, the fire initially broke out in open brush and grassland before rapidly spreading north and east toward residential neighborhoods. Local emergency officials issued a Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation order, urging residents to leave immediately to protect their lives. Long lines of vehicles formed as people fled their homes, while towering flames were visible from nearby highways.

Spokane, the largest city in eastern Washington, has a population of about 230,000. Washington State Forester George Geissler said the Old Trails Fire has burned more than 3,000 acres (about 1,215 hectares) and is directly threatening around 4,000 structures in the city. Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown said several key facilities—including a water reclamation plant, a waste-to-energy incineration facility, and a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital—have been evacuated as a precaution. As of 3:30 p.m., about 200 households had officially registered for evacuation assistance, though Brown said the number is expected to rise significantly as evacuation efforts continue across the affected areas.

Several major wildfires remain active across Washington. The Model T Fire has scorched 40,625 acres and is 22% contained, while the Little Giant Fire has burned 28,393 acres. Earlier, the U.S. National Weather Service issued an unprecedented "Particularly Dangerous Situation" (PDS) Red Flag Warning for eastern Washington, forecasting extreme wildfire weather conditions due to powerful winds, low humidity, and exceptionally dry vegetation.

On Saturday morning, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and imposed a burn ban. The order prohibits most outdoor and agricultural burning through September 30 in an effort to reduce the risk of additional human-caused wildfires.

Approximately 4,000 firefighters are currently battling more than a dozen wildfires across the state. In addition to the Washington National Guard, firefighting crews from more than a dozen other states have been deployed to assist. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities have been reported so far.