John Merolla Reporter, Life News Today Hakainde Hichilema secured Zambia’s presidency for a second term after winning the general elections held on August 13, 2026. The president, leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), received around 61% of the vote, compared with nearly 38% for his main rival, Brian Mundubile, candidate of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) and backed by the opposition Tonse PF Pamodzi alliance. The res

John Merolla Reporter, Life News Today Colombia continues to face the consequences of the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the western part of the country on August 10. The epicenter was located near San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó, but the shaking was felt across large areas of Colombia. The earthquake occurred at 7:34 in the morning and had a depth of nearly 100 kilometers. According to the Colombian Geological Service, monitoring stations closest to t

John Merolla Reporter Life News Today A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck southern Japan on July 28, 2026, once again demonstrating why the Asian nation has faced for centuries one of the world's most feared natural phenomena. The earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu and was strong enough for authorities to issue a tsunami advisory while immediately activating emergency response protocols. Within minutes, precautionary evacuations began, and

John Merolla Reporter, Life News Today The latest statements by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega put the country back at the center of the international scene. During an official ceremony for the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution, held in the last weeks of July, the president said: "There will be no elections here again so that they can try to trap the government, to capture power," a phrase that was interpreted by much of the international community as confir

John Merolla Reporter, Life News Today The recent presidential elections in São Tomé and Príncipe made it clear that Carlos Vila Nova secured the presidency and will continue to lead the small island state in the Gulf of Guinea. The outcome confirmed the support of a majority of the electorate for a project that promises institutional continuity in one of the most democratically stable countries in Africa. With the outcome already defined, interest shifts to the challenges

John Merolla Reporter, Life News Today The forest fires affecting southern Europe have intensified again in the last few hours and keep several countries on the continent alert. Spain continues to have some of the most serious outbreaks, while France also faces large-scale fires amid a persistent heat wave. The combination of extreme temperatures, strong winds and exceptionally dry vegetation made this summer one of the most difficult in recent years for emergency services.

John Merolla Reporter, Life News Today The United Kingdom has a new prime minister. Andy Burnham was appointed as head of government after winning the internal election of the Labour Party and receiving the official commission from King Charles III to form a government, after the resignation of Keir Starmer. Burnham assumes the leadership of the country at a time of significant economic, social and political challenges, with the aim of regaining the trust of the public and

John Merolla Reporter, Life News Today After a month of competition, emotions and unforgettable matches, the 2026 FIFA World Cup already has its two finalists. Spain and Argentina will face each other this Sunday, July 19, in final match of the tournament. Both teams reach the final after an outstanding campaign, beating high-level opponents and demonstrating why they are considered two of the greatest powers in international football. The match will define the new world c

John Merolla Reporter, Life News Today While the 2026 World Cup turns the United States into a global showcase, thousands of foreign fans are discovering a face of the country that does not always match the image they receive from their places of origin. For many fans, the build-up was marked by warnings: guns, strict immigration controls, protests, neighborhoods to avoid and a different legal culture depending on the state. However, once at the destination, a significant p

John Merolla Reporter, Life News Today Colombia recently held its presidential elections and elected Abelardo de la Espriella as the new president for the 2026-2030 period. The election mainly pitted Abelardo de la Espriella, who has a policy more aimed at the right, and the official candidate, Iván Cepeda, who represented the continuity of the outgoing government, which was more left-wing. De la Espriella won by a tight percentage of 50.48%. During the campaign, De la Espr

John Merolla Reporter, Life News Today This weekend, while much of Europe was closely following international conflicts, inflation and debates about the future of the European Union, a small Mediterranean country once again made headlines. Malta held general elections and the result confirmed a political trend that has been going on for more than a decade: the Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Robert Abela, achieved a historic fourth consecutive victory and will continue to

John Merolla Reporter, Life News Today On Tuesday, May 12, the Bahamas held its general elections, in which the ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), led by Prime Minister Philip Davis, achieved a resounding victory that will allow him to continue in power for a new term. The result consolidated Davis's leadership and marked a significant event for Bahamian politics: it had been almost three decades since a government had been able to revalidate power consecutively with s

By Alexander Fernandez Reporter, Life News Today What began as a polar voyage from the southern tip of South America shifted into an international public health investigation after authorities confirmed hantavirus infections linked to the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged expedition ship that navigated the remote South Atlantic. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, acting director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention at the World Health Organization (WHO), said seven of the 147

By Sabrina Pineda Reporter of Life News Today The Korean Wave, known in Korean as “Hallyu,” refers to the global spread of South Korean culture. In the United States, its rise has been shaped by two forces meeting at the same time. South Korea built cultural industries designed to reach audiences beyond its borders, and young Americans began discovering culture without waiting for radio stations, movie studios or television networks to approve it first. A song from Seoul can

John Merolla Reporter, Life News Today A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck northeastern Japan on April 18, triggering tsunami warnings and prompting evacuations in coastal areas, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The quake was recorded off the coast of the Tōhoku region, at a depth of approximately 40 kilometers, and was felt in several prefectures, including Miyagi and Fukushima. Authorities issued tsunami warnings for parts of the Pacific coast, with waves rea

John Merolla Reporter, Life News Today Rumen Radev has won the election that puts him in position to become Bulgaria’s next prime minister, but he has not formally taken office yet. He served as Bulgaria’s president from 2017 until Jan. 23, 2026, when his resignation was approved so he could enter parliamentary politics. After Radev left the presidency, Vice President Iliana Iotova became president and took over presidential authority. Before that transition, Rosen Zhelyazk

John Merolla Reporter, Life News Today Djibouti went to the polls again and, without major surprises, the winner was again Ismail Omar Guelleh. The current president managed to renew his mandate with a wide victory, in an election that had already been quite assured before. Election day took place normally, without major conflicts, and with a turnout that the government described as positive. The result confirmed something that has been repeated for years: the ruling party

John Merolla Reporter, Life News Today Hungary experienced an election day that many already describe as historic. In the most recent legislative elections, the winner was Péter Magyar, who together with his Tisza party managed to clearly impose himself and change the political course of the country. With more than two-thirds of the votes already counted, the opposition not only won, but reached a wide enough lead to project a qualified majority in Parliament. This marks a

John Merolla Reporter, Life News Today Benin experienced a key election on Sunday that ended with the victory of Romuald Wadagni, the candidate closest to the ruling party and long pointed out as the natural next in line to continue the current political agenda. On a day marked by expectation and some accumulated tension, the result confirms that the country did not opt for an abrupt change, but to maintain the course it has been on in recent years. Beyond who won, what is

By John Merolla Reporter, Life News Today On March 15, 2026, the Republic of Congo held presidential elections that confirmed the re-election of Denis Sassou Nquesso with close to 95% of the votes. Nquesso, 82, was first elected in 1979 and was president for 12 years under a one-party state. He lost the upcoming election after opposition lawmakers voted to introduce a multi-party system. On his second attempt, in 1997, he seized power in a bloody civil war and has remaine

By Samantha Gilstrap Reporter, Life News Today World Animal Protection reported in a 2026 assessment of Thailand’s captive elephant tourism venues that nearly seven in 10 elephants used in tourism in Thailand were still living in poor or unacceptable conditions, even as more operations marketed themselves as “ethical,” “no riding,” and “rescues.” The group also reported that observation-only experiences have increased over time, though they remained a smaller share of the mar

Peru's president removed from office

Elections in Portugal

Costa Rica elected Laura Fernández as its next president on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, after she surpassed the 40% threshold required to avoid a runoff, according to preliminary results from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. The first-round victory concluded the race in a single day and accelerated the transition of power, scheduled for May 8. The election was administered by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, which activated more than 7,000 polling stations and released provisional re