In the late 19th century, the Isthmus of Panama was a highly coveted stretch of land, linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and serving as a critical route for international trade. The idea of constructing a canal across Panama—an engineering feat that would one day transform global commerce—had been discussed among world powers for decades. …
On the morning of March 11, 2004, a coordinated series of bombings struck Madrid, Spain, during the height of rush hour, killing 193 people and injuring over 2,000. The bombings, which targeted four commuter trains, were one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Europe. The perpetrators, a group of Islamist extremists, used backpacks filled with …
