NATO says it has started reducing the size of its contingent in Kosovo. Alliance spokesperson Allison Hart provided no figures for how many personnel are involved. She also gave no details on when the reductions will take place. The announcement indicates a change in the alliance’s deployment, while the scale and schedule remain unspecified.
T
TASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 18:03
Russia has released Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old American who had been sentenced by a court to 10 years in a penal colony. Russian authorities say he was detained in Voronezh in January 2022 after being removed from a train for causing a drunken disturbance and kicking a police officer in the leg. His original sentence was four and a half years, but it was later increased to 10 years over allegations that he attacked guards and an investigator while behind bars. Gilman had tried to leave prison by volunteering for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but was released on humanitarian grounds instead.
MMeduzaOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 18:01
Lawyer says American national Robert Gilman, released by Russia, can barely sit upright and requires medical treatment. Gilman was detained at Voronezh train station on January 19, 2022. The detention followed a drunken brawl on a train. The account links his current condition to the need for care, while identifying the earlier incident as the reason for his detention.
US President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said he is meeting released American Robert Gilman in the United States. Witkoff thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for granting the pardon. He also credited Putin with personal engagement throughout the process, according to the statement.
Russia has released former US marine Robert Gilman. He had been imprisoned since 2022 after being convicted of attacking a police officer. The report gives no further details about the terms or circumstances of his release.
The San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans quickly began clashing during their joint practice. Players from the two teams were involved in several heated confrontations as the session unfolded.
T
The Associated PressOriginal★☆☆☆☆2026-08-12 18:00
Scheduling a follow-up doctor’s appointment could happen without digging through an inbox. Sending emails during the commute could also be done without typing on a tiny keyboard. The item poses these possibilities as a question about making both tasks easier.
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CNNOriginal★☆☆☆☆2026-08-12 18:00
A new social networking platform says an AI chatbot can help people make friends in real life. We tested whether the service can deliver on that promise.
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Bloomberg NewsOriginal★☆☆☆☆2026-08-12 17:56
A quarter-century has passed since the Ohrid Framework Agreement brought North Macedonia’s 2001 conflict to an end. Analysts caution that peace between the country’s ethnic communities remains fragile. The prospects for reconciliation therefore remain uncertain, despite the agreement’s long legacy.
DDWOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 17:56
Some analysts say Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection last week of a US-backed peace plan for Gaza handed Hamas a diplomatic victory. The Palestinian Islamist movement had agreed to surrender its weapons gradually in return for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. However, the parties may struggle to agree on what “disarmament” would actually mean. That unresolved definition could become a major obstacle to the proposed arrangement.
FFrance 24Original★★★★☆2026-08-12 17:48
Google has announced its next generation of Pixel phones and watches after weeks of leaks and rumors. The standard Pixel 11 starts at $899, while the Pro and Pro XL models cost $1,099 and $1,299. The Pixel Pro Fold begins at $1,899. Customers who preorder can receive gift cards worth up to $350.
TThe VergeOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 17:47
Google has expanded its Pixel lineup with four new phones: the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. The devices cost slightly more than their predecessors. In return, they introduce notable upgrades, including improved cameras and a new Tensor G6 chip intended to provide faster performance.
A former chief financial officer of the Southern Poverty Law Center has been arrested. She faces charges alleging that she oversaw secret payments to informants embedded in white supremacist groups. The case centers on the alleged payments and her supervisory role. No further details were provided in the headline.
CCNNOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 17:46
Google co-founder Sergey Brin has urged key artificial intelligence staff in recent months to commit fully to the company’s Gemini model, according to two people familiar with his remarks. The push comes as Google parent Alphabet works to narrow the gap with rivals. The account examines the executive changes that led to Google’s broad AI reorganization.
R
ReutersOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 17:45
United Russia Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said the special military operation can be ended or suspended only on Russia’s terms. He also said relations between Russia and the West would change little afterward. His remarks link any halt in the operation to conditions set by Moscow. The statement presents limited change in ties with the West as the expected consequence.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 17:45
The politician said the West had always wanted to “cancel” Russia. According to Medvedev, that agenda emerged after the special military operation began in an absolutely cynical, undisguised, monstrous and even perverted form. His remarks portray the current Western approach as an open and extreme expression of an intention he says had existed all along.
A strike on the Black Sea Fleet port in Novorossiysk damaged four Russian warships, according to the latest developments on Aug. 12. Zelensky said Ukraine had liberated 745 square kilometers in the Oleksandrivka sector since January. A Ukrainian unit on the front line reported shortages of food and water. Its command said evacuation would be arranged when the “security situation allows.”
TThe Kyiv IndependentOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-12 17:42
A major Russian grain export terminal was hit in an attack on a Black Sea port in Ukraine. Grain shipments from both Russia and Ukraine are declining. The two countries have been attacking each other’s shipping facilities and ports, disrupting their respective export activity.
Ukrainian drones damaged two grain terminals at the port of Novorossiysk overnight, according to the Russian business daily Vedomosti and Reuters. The incident affected facilities at one of Russia’s largest grain-export hubs. The report asks how much of the port’s operations was knocked offline by the drone attack.
Ukraine launched a drone attack that crippled grain terminals in Novorossiysk. At the same time, Putin threatened to seize European vessels traveling from the Russian Black Sea toward the Pacific. The report presents the strike as hitting the Black Sea Fleet’s “last major stronghold” while portraying Putin as displaying Russian naval power in the Pacific.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want to end the war, but will eventually stop it. Zelensky said Ukraine and its allies have a plan intended to force Putin to halt the fighting. He did not provide details of the plan in the quoted remarks.
TThe Kyiv IndependentOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-12 17:31
Writer and screenwriter Pavel Tetersky has departed Russia, according to a Telegram post by his lawyer, Oskar Cherdzhiev, on August 12. The post was highlighted by Mediazona, an independent Russian news outlet. Tetersky had faced a terrorism accusation and spent 12 days under arrest. His departure follows that legal episode, as reported in the available account.
MMeduzaOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 17:31
Two media organizations have sued President Donald Trump over a plan by Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. to sell quicker access to his posts on Truth Social. The case challenges the company’s proposed arrangement for providing faster access to content published by Trump on the platform. The dispute centers on the commercial plan involving those posts.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 17:30
Twitch users can now choose not to let Amazon use their content to train its generative AI models. The opt-out covers streams, VODs, clips and stream chats. It also includes pictures and text posted on a channel. Content excluded through the setting will not be used in future training of an Amazon AI model designed to generate or synthesize text and similar material.
TThe VergeOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 17:29
Luigi Mangione is expected to appear in court on Friday. Federal prosecutors have jointly asked for a conference with the US judge overseeing his case. The scheduled appearance follows that request for a judicial conference. No further details about the proceedings were provided.
CCNNOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 17:28
Politico said Zelensky fumbled his trip to Belgrade. The publication reported that remarks concerning Kosovo caused a stir. Albania also reacted sharply to the statement, according to the report. The account highlights the diplomatic repercussions of the comments during the visit.
TTASSOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 17:27
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s first official visit to Serbia is portrayed as a diplomatic gamble. Ukraine needs partners wherever it can find them, including countries that maintain close relations with Moscow. Serbia, however, is not turning into a conventional Ukrainian ally. Belgrade nominally supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity and has provided some support, while retaining close ties with Russia.
The White House stood behind a reported plan for nearly $1bn in controversial construction work.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 17:23
Donald Trump’s administration is preparing to spend at least $900 million on construction projects within the White House grounds, according to a Washington Post report published Wednesday. The newspaper said its account was based on records. The reported spending concerns multiple construction projects at the White House site.
The Supreme Court has found that the Yabloko party received roughly $36,000 from abroad. The donations came through counterparties that had received funding from the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and several other countries. The transactions took place between July 9 and August 2.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 17:21
A person briefed on the matter said a credible threat involving a shoulder-fired missile led the Secret Service to secretly move President Donald Trump off Air Force One. The switch took place during his trip to Turkey last month. Trump was transferred to an unmarked government jet after officials feared the presidential aircraft could be targeted. The account was provided on Wednesday.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 17:05
Russia’s ministry says easing monetary policy has been a key factor behind the recovery in economic activity. Existing government measures have also supported that activity. The statement presents both monetary policy and government action as contributors to the recovery.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 17:01
Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov says Russia’s growth rates are recovering. He said the improvement was first seen in March. According to the minister, the recovery has continued despite persistent external pressure. His remarks present the trend as ongoing rather than a temporary change.
Actor and comedian Tiffany Haddish pleaded guilty to a charge arising from a 2022 traffic arrest in Georgia. The case involved an allegation of drunken driving. Her plea means she will avoid serving additional time in jail. The legal matter stems from the earlier arrest.
TThe Associated PressOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 17:01
Organizers have called off Dronnitsa, an all-Russian gathering for combat-drone operators. The event had been scheduled for August 29–30 in Veliky Novgorod. Its cancellation was reportedly driven by concern that Ukraine might attack the gathering. The location is about 100 kilometers from Vladimir Putin’s residence.
MMeduzaOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 17:00
Unwell, the media company founded by popular podcast host Alex Cooper, has secured an investment from Hollywood super agent Patrick Whitesell. People familiar with the deal say the transaction values the company at $500 million. The investment highlights the business’s valuation as it expands beyond Cooper’s podcast platform.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 17:00
Soccer star Lionel Messi has published a farewell letter to his father, Jorge Messi, who died Saturday at the age of 68. Messi wrote about his pain and disclosed details of what he experienced during the World Cup. The letter offers a personal account of his loss and the tournament period.
CCNNOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 17:00
The blockage of the Strait of Hormuz is preventing Iraq from exporting enough oil to finance its huge public sector. Protests have already begun as the country faces growing financial pressure. The situation raises the question of whether the Iran war could destabilize Iraq once again. Iraq’s ability to fund the public sector is closely tied to oil exports, making the disruption especially consequential.
DDWOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-12 17:00
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is seeking to spend as much as $20 million on specialized gloves for its officers and agents. The devices are designed to deliver painful electric shocks to people. The plan was described in a notice issued Monday by the Department of Homeland Security. It does not specify how many gloves would be supplied, but says delivery is scheduled by March.
TThe VergeOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:58
Record-low water levels have been recorded on the Danube near Prahovo in Serbia. The drop has revealed the wrecks of dozens of vessels dating from the Nazi era. The ships had remained beneath the river’s surface before the drought exposed them. Their appearance offers a striking sign of the unusually low conditions affecting the river.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 16:58
The NATO Council says Russia bears responsibility for drone incidents in Romania and Poland. The alliance plans to reinforce its eastern-flank defenses, extending from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. It also intends to continue supporting Ukraine. The statement links the incidents to a broader effort to strengthen NATO’s posture along its eastern side.
TTASSOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-12 16:55
Russia’s Economic Development Ministry says the country’s GDP increased at an annualized rate of 0.6% in the first half of the year. It attributes second-quarter growth to robust domestic demand. The ministry also points to positive results across several sectors of the real economy as a factor behind the expansion.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:50
Russia’s Federal State Statistics Service has made a preliminary estimate that the country’s gross domestic product grew by 1.3% in the second quarter of 2026. The expansion was driven mainly by higher retail trade turnover, food-service turnover and freight turnover. The figure remains preliminary.
A US non-governmental organization is urging Congress to stop Turkey from transferring cluster munitions to Kiev. Nicole Widdersheim, Human Rights Watch’s deputy Washington director, said that dumping obsolete cluster munitions into a conflict creates a humanitarian liability for civilians. Her warning frames the proposed transfer as a direct risk to civilians caught up in the fighting.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:49
Amazon is stepping away entirely from massively multiplayer online games. The company said last year that it would halt a significant portion of its first-party AAA game work, particularly in MMOs. It has now announced that other companies will take over Western live operations for Throne and Liberty and Lost Ark. The handover was announced on Wednesday.
TThe VergeOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 16:46
CNN’s Clarissa Ward speaks with an American couple visiting Spain about watching a total solar eclipse for the first time. They offer her tips for viewing the celestial event. Ward and the CNN team then look for a suitable spot from which to watch the eclipse.
CCNNOriginal★☆☆☆☆2026-08-12 16:45
Millions of people in Spain and Iceland are preparing to watch a total solar eclipse. The live coverage focuses on when the eclipse will begin, where viewers can observe it, and the safety advice they should follow while watching. The event is drawing attention across both countries as people get ready for the spectacle.
A rare total solar eclipse is due within hours, briefly turning parts of northern Spain from day to night as the Moon passes in front of the Sun. Millions of people across Europe, Canada, the northern United States and northwest Africa are expected to see a partial eclipse. The event is more than a spectacle, offering scientists useful insights into the Sun and the wider universe. France 24 correspondent Sarah Morris reports from Segovia, Spain.
Tens of millions of people across western Europe are gathering to witness a rare solar eclipse. Enthusiasts have travelled to viewing locations in Spain, the United Kingdom and Iceland along the path of totality. A broad stretch of northern and central Spain, a small part of Portugal, and areas of Greenland and Iceland are expected to experience totality. The event is drawing crowds across the region.
A rare total solar eclipse is expected to cross a broad stretch of Europe. Rural villages in Spain and Iceland, where the phenomenon will be most visible, are being transformed into busy tourism destinations. The eclipse is drawing large numbers of visitors to places that are usually quieter. Its path is reshaping local travel activity around the event.
A rare solar eclipse is set to sweep across Europe and the Arctic. The celestial event will span both regions, drawing attention from skywatchers. Its path is presented as an unusually broad occurrence across these areas.
Millions of people across Europe are preparing to witness a rare celestial spectacle on Wednesday evening. During the total eclipse, the Moon will pass directly between Earth and the Sun. It will be the first total solar eclipse visible in mainland Europe in two decades. The liveblog will follow developments and reactions as the event unfolds.
A total solar eclipse will cross northern Spain on August 12 in one of Europe’s most eagerly awaited astronomical events of the decade. These rare occurrences continue to help scientists study subjects ranging from the Sun’s corona to animal behaviour and human emotions. Their scientific value has endured through more than two thousand years of observation. Olivier Joie-La Marle, head of space science at the Centre National d'Études Spatiales, offers further insights.
A rare total solar eclipse is expected within hours. Parts of northern Spain will briefly fall from daylight into darkness as the Moon passes in front of the Sun. Millions of people elsewhere across Europe, Canada, the northern United States and northwest Africa will see a partial eclipse. Beyond the spectacle, eclipses give scientists valuable opportunities to study the Sun and gain insight into the wider universe.
A rare total solar eclipse is expected within hours. As the Moon fully covers the Sun, parts of northern Spain will briefly experience darkness during the day. Millions of people elsewhere in Europe, Canada, the northern United States and northwest Africa will see a partial eclipse. Coverage of the celestial event will continue throughout the day.
A total solar eclipse is set to cross northern Spain on August 12, marking one of Europe’s most eagerly awaited astronomical events of the decade. The Sun’s corona, animal behaviour and human emotions are among the phenomena that such rare eclipses can help scientists study. Observations of these celestial events have continued to yield insights for more than two thousand years since they were first recorded.
A rare total solar eclipse is due to take place within hours. As the Moon fully covers the Sun, parts of northern Spain will briefly be plunged from daylight into darkness. Millions of people elsewhere will see a partial eclipse across Europe, Canada, the northern United States and northwest Africa.
Thousands of people across Spain were swept up in excitement as they hurried toward locations offering the best view of Wednesday’s total solar eclipse. Trains filled to capacity, travellers arranged last-minute carpools, and social media users circulated suggestions for prime viewing points. France 24 spoke with several eclipse enthusiasts as they departed from Madrid to seek out the spectacle.
The last solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe occurred in 1999. This rare occasion offers a chance to witness another notable celestial event. Viewers can learn what to expect and make preparations before observing it.
The 2026 total solar eclipse has arrived. The guide explains what people need to know to watch this astronomical event. It focuses on when the eclipse can be seen and how to observe it, offering practical information for viewers preparing to follow the spectacle.
Spain and other parts of Europe are seeing a surge of visitors in quiet towns and villages as the continent prepares for its first total solar eclipse since 2006. Eclipse chasers have driven to these destinations, bringing a wave of tourism to communities that are usually sleepy. The celestial event has been billed as the “event of the century,” prompting travelers to make plans around the spectacle.
Millions of people in Spain and Iceland prepared to watch a total solar eclipse on Wednesday. They packed protective glasses and travelled toward locations where the rare astronomical spectacle could be seen in full. The event has generated widespread excitement across both countries.
Russia recorded annual inflation of 5.98% in July, according to Rosstat. Food prices increased by 0.29% compared with the previous month.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:39
Authorities in several villages in Russia’s Tyumen region have started taking pigs from farmers and killing them. The action is being justified by reference to a disease whose identity has not been disclosed. Officials have offered no name for the illness, describing it only as “very dangerous.”
MMeduzaOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 16:37
American mercenary Conor Kennedy has been arrested in absentia in Russia and added to the country’s wanted list. He allegedly took part in combat operations while concealing his identity and fighting on the side of Ukrainian forces. The case concerns his reported covert participation in those operations. Russian authorities are pursuing the matter through an absentee arrest and a wanted notice.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:34
Buyout funds and lenders were attracted to software-as-a-service companies because they offered dependable revenue and low operating costs. Artificial intelligence now threatens that entire model. Investors who committed to these businesses face the possibility that the assumptions supporting their bets may no longer hold. The pressure reaches both the companies and the financial firms that backed them.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 16:30
An unusually prolonged and wide-ranging communications outage severely disrupted the National Weather Service on Tuesday evening. The disruption occurred as deadly severe thunderstorms were moving across the Midwest and Ohio Valley. The weather agency’s operations were hindered while dangerous storms were tearing through the region.
CCNNOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:26
Russia recorded deflation of 0.06% between August 4 and 10, according to Rosstat. Consumer prices in the country have risen 4.69% since the start of the year.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:24
Donald Trump claims that pro-Israel lobbying groups no longer hold the power they exercised decades ago. His remarks point to changes in the role of such groups within Congress. The claim frames their diminished influence as part of broader shifts in US politics.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:23
The Kyiv Independent interviews “Khvoryi,” a soldier serving with Ukraine’s 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar.” He describes what it takes to remain alive at a combat position for more than six months. The conversation focuses on the demands of enduring over 200 days in what he calls the kill zone.
TThe Kyiv IndependentOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 16:21
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainian forces have liberated 745 square kilometers in the Oleksandrivka sector since January. He reported that Russian losses reached at least 9,550 killed and more than 6,600 wounded. The figures were presented alongside the claimed territorial gains.
TThe Kyiv IndependentOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:18
The Houthis lost more than 80 fighters in Yemen over a six-day period, according to television reports. Yemeni government forces carried out artillery and drone strikes against the rebels in northern Dhale Governorate on Tuesday evening. The reported losses were linked to the latest fighting in the area. The strikes targeted Houthi forces amid the continuing armed conflict in Yemen.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:11
The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly set to be sold for $12.5bn, in what would be a record deal. The proposed sale comes less than a year after Mark Walter acquired a majority stake in the NBA franchise.
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BBC NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:11
The Los Angeles Lakers are set to be sold for a record $12 billion. The buyers are former Disney CEO Bob Iger and Josh Kushner. Kushner is the brother of Jared Kushner, who is described as President Trump’s son-in-law. The deal would transfer ownership of the basketball franchise to the two buyers.
The Los Angeles Lakers are set to be sold to businessmen Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, according to an AP source. The reported price is $12.5 billion, making it a record-breaking transaction. It is also the second sale of this kind in a single year.
Josh Kushner and Bob Iger are set to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, according to people familiar with the matter. The price is more than $12 billion, making it a record-breaking deal. The transaction would transfer ownership of the team to the two buyers.
A playful tribute to Mozart has become a theft mystery after 210 gold-colored figurines vanished from one of Austria’s busiest tourist attractions. The disappearance disrupted an outdoor display dedicated to the composer. Organizers responded by bringing the exhibition to an early close.
DDWOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 16:11
Wall Street’s main indexes advanced on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq leading the gains. Strong earnings from companies involved in artificial intelligence infrastructure lifted technology shares. Inflation figures that were broadly in line with expectations also strengthened market bets that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged. The move combined enthusiasm over AI-related results with support from the latest price data.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:10
Loneliness has become a widespread but largely unseen consequence of the war inside Russia. Many people avoid contact with others because even an apparently harmless conversation about peace could lead to imprisonment, leaving them to face their pain alone. Others have withdrawn from public life, believing they can no longer change anything, and concentrated on their families. Both antiwar voices and supporters of the war describe isolation and fear. Still, some people have found ways to escape this dead end, as the independent journalists’ cooperative Bereg reports.
MMeduzaOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:04
An online petition is calling for the expulsion of US ambassador Pete Hoekstra from Canada. It accuses him of interfering in Canadian domestic affairs. The petition has collected more than 60,000 signatures. The campaign reflects opposition to what its organizers describe as diplomatic interference in Canada’s internal politics.
BBBC NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:03
An internal document indicates that the European Central Bank is leaning toward approving UniCredit’s proposed takeover of Germany’s Commerzbank. The document lays out the ECB’s preliminary view of the Italian bank’s attempt. UniCredit’s plan would seek to create one of Europe’s largest lenders. The position described is preliminary rather than a final decision.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:02
Kosovo has begun excavating newly discovered mass graves linked to people who went missing during the 1998-99 war. Erblin Ademi’s father disappeared nearly 30 years ago. Ademi has lived for a long time without hope that his father might still be alive. The excavations bring renewed attention to those whose fate remained unresolved after the conflict.
TThe Associated PressOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:01
Paris Saint-Germain face Aston Villa in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup. Live coverage follows the match through commentary and text updates. PSG players Dembélé, Doué and Barcola are seeking further trophies as the French side aims to add to its silverware. The fixture is being followed in real time.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 16:00
Harvard students are beginning to worry about a new policy that would limit the awarding of A grades. The measure is not scheduled to take effect until 2027. Faculty members, however, are being encouraged to alter their grading practices ahead of that deadline. The prospect of tighter grade limits is already creating stress among students.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 16:00
The BBC examined Donald Trump’s remarks about withdrawing some vaccines that are currently recommended. The US president has repeatedly questioned the safety of vaccines for children. He has also made many statements described as misleading.
BBBC ChineseOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 16:00
Google was not the first company to produce an Android foldable, but its Pixel Fold line has become an established competitor. The series is known for traits that set it apart from rival devices. It helped popularize a passport-style form factor years ago, with a body that is wider rather than taller. Samsung is trying a similar approach in its Z Fold line for the first time this year.
TThe VergeOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 16:00
A television analysis says the British economy could be pushed into recession if the Strait of Hormuz stays closed until spring. Prolonged closure of the strategic waterway would severely damage the country’s economic outlook and could almost eliminate growth projected for 2027. The assessment centers on the economic consequences of the strait remaining shut for an extended period.
TTASSOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-12 15:56
The senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee sent a new letter to Paramount CEO David Ellison. The letter accused Ellison of “colluding” with President Trump. It also urged him to respond to questions raised by the committee’s Democratic leader.
CCNNOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 15:55
German intelligence agencies have long sought broader powers to combat cyberattacks, terrorism and extremism. The government has now given the green light. Critics caution that the decision may cross established red lines, raising concerns about how far the agencies should be allowed to go in the name of security.
DDWOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 15:54
Germany’s cabinet approved measures on Wednesday to broaden the powers of its intelligence services. The proposed authorities would allow them to hack communications and disrupt the operations of foreign adversaries. Officials justified the move by pointing to what they describe as a growing threat from cyberattacks and hybrid attacks.
Music company D’Addario has acknowledged that artificial intelligence music, specifically Suno, was used in a recent promotional video. The admission follows nearly two weeks of denials as evidence supporting the allegations accumulated. During that period, the company offered several alternative explanations, including low-quality exports and possible effects from combinations of plugins such as AutoTune. The disclosure brings a weeks-long controversy and speculation into the open.
TThe VergeOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 15:52
AFP News AgencyUS President Donald Trump says inflation in Iran will peak at 300%. The International Monetary Fund expects Iran’s inflation rate to reach 69% this year. The two figures represent sharply different projections for the country’s price growth.
TTASSOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-12 15:45
Europe is getting ready for its first total solar eclipse in 27 years. The upcoming celestial event has prompted preparations across the region for the rare spectacle.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★☆☆☆☆2026-08-12 15:40
As tensions and security risks grow across the Horn of Africa, Eritrea is emerging as an increasingly important regional player. Attention is focused on its strategically significant coastal positions along the Red Sea. A perceived lack of conflict in the country is also shaping views of its regional role. Together, these factors are placing Eritrea closer to the center of the Horn’s geopolitical gamble.
DDWOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 15:40
Colombia has declared three days of mourning following a deadly earthquake. Hundreds of people have died in the magnitude 7.4 quake. Rescuers are racing to locate survivors amid the disaster. The announcement comes as search efforts continue for those who may still be trapped.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-12 15:39
Colombia’s search for survivors is continuing more than 48 hours after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country. More than 200 people have been confirmed dead, while over 2,000 are reported missing. New President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared a state of emergency as many residents remain without clean drinking water or electricity. Several major highways are still closed, and the report opens with a dramatic rescue from a collapsed home.
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs described a strange incident involving the purchase of anti-drone equipment. He said the equipment was bought, but ammunition was forgotten. Kulbergs did not identify the systems involved or say who was responsible. He also provided no further details about the matter.
TThe Kyiv IndependentOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 15:38
Oil production by OPEC+ member states increased by almost 1.4 million barrels per day in July. The alliance’s total output reached 28.928 million barrels per day during the month.
TTASSOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-12 15:38
Seven OPEC+ countries increased their oil production in July by 1.424 million barrels per day. The group’s members had previously extended the deadline for making up past overproduction. That deadline now runs until the end of 2026. The development concerns the alliance’s output adjustment and compensation arrangements.
The International Energy Agency says OPEC+ increased its June oil output by 1.15 million barrels per day in July. Despite the rise, the group failed to meet its planned quota. IEA data put the production shortfall against that quota at approximately 6.02 million barrels per day. The figures highlight a substantial gap between the planned level and reported production.
Russia’s economy is being tested by a widening deficit and strikes from Ukraine. At the same time, the war in the Middle East is increasing oil revenue and giving Moscow an unexpected financial gain. The contrasting pressures raise questions about how long that support can offset the damage caused by the deficit and Ukrainian attacks.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-12 15:36
Russian troops carried out new strikes against Ukrainian fuel tanks and a ship carrying military cargo. The attacks also hit a Ukrainian patrol boat at the port of Ochakiv in the Nikolayev Region. The report presents the action as part of Russian strikes on Ukrainian targets. No further details about the damage or casualties are provided.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 15:35
The head of the World Health Organization says Donald Trump’s push on vaccines runs contrary to decades of evidence. The US health secretary has spent years claiming that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine caused autism. The allegation has no medical evidence behind it, according to the report.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-12 15:30
AFP News AgencyVoters in six US states have cast ballots in primaries and special elections ahead of November’s midterms. In Wisconsin’s governor race, moderate Democrat David Crowley narrowly beat Democratic socialist Francesca Hong. Republican Senate candidate Darline Graham, identified as the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, advanced to a runoff. The results set the stage for the next phase of the campaign.
FFrance 24Original★★★☆☆2026-08-12 15:29
Centrist David Crowley is projected to defeat democratic socialist Francesca Hong in Wisconsin. The result breaks a recent nationwide pattern of victories for the Democratic Party’s left wing. It marks a setback for that faction in the state contest and interrupts its run of success across the country.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated democratic socialist Francesca Hong in Wednesday’s Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor. His margin was less than one percentage point, making the result a strikingly close victory. The contest highlights a divide within the party between establishment candidates and an insurgent progressive movement. That split is emerging ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections.
Wisconsin Democrats chose Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley as their nominee for governor on Wednesday, according to US media reports. Crowley will represent the party in the race for Wisconsin’s state governorship. The selection followed the party’s primary process.
David Crowley has won the Democratic primary for governor in Wisconsin. Crowley reentered the race after receiving an endorsement from Gov. Tony Evers. He defeated democratic socialist Francesca Hong in the primary. The contest took place in the battleground state, a closely watched setting in US politics.
Iran is maintaining a defiant stance and has pledged to keep fighting the United States until its demands are met. Advisers to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps say the country has replaced more missiles and drones than it has used. They also point to declining US stocks of munitions as a sign of pressure on Washington.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-12 15:29
Iran may continue its conflict with the United States until the end of Donald Trump’s presidential term, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says. Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi said Iran needs to achieve deterrence. In his formulation, that capability should ensure the enemy never dares to attack Iran. The statement presents deterrence as the central objective of the confrontation.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is portrayed as a state focused on survival rather than genuine anti-imperialism. Despite its current hostile rhetoric, it is likely to eventually reach a settlement with the United States and Israel. The assessment presents Tehran’s posture as pragmatic calculation rather than an unchanging ideological commitment. Any future agreement would therefore reflect its perceived survival needs.
President Trump says US forces have complete control over the Strait of Hormuz. He claims Iran has “no Navy and no Air Force.”
TTASSOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-12 15:28
Donald Trump has again said the United States has “control” of the Strait of Hormuz as vessel traffic through the waterway declines. Only eight ships crossed on Tuesday, compared with 130 to 140 before the war. The sharp reduction comes as peace talks remain stalled.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States has “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz.
Analysts say Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea could encourage the United States to build closer ties with Somaliland. The possibility comes as concerns increase about Djibouti’s reliability. Analysts also point to China’s expanding presence in the area as another factor that could influence a significant change in US policy.
President Donald Trump said the United States had “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz. His claim came as Washington and Tehran took tougher positions in negotiations over the critical waterway. The talks remain deadlocked, with neither side appearing to soften its stance. The development highlights the widening impasse between the US and Iran over Hormuz.
Iran has rejected Donald Trump’s claim that the Strait of Hormuz is under control. Tehran says the waterway will remain closed until the United States meets its demands and changes what it calls Washington’s “behaviour”. The statement comes as global energy prices rise, adding pressure to the talks between the two sides.
Only eight vessels were tracked in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, the lowest count in a week, according to shipping data. Owners have been avoiding the vital waterway as hostilities continue in the Middle East. The reduced traffic reflects the disruption caused by the ongoing regional tensions.
Brent crude prices have climbed after renewed attacks weakened expectations that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen. The violence has also reduced hopes that energy markets will return to stability. Market sentiment remains focused on the strategic waterway and the risks its disruption poses to energy flows.
Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Rezaei reiterated on the 11th that the Strait of Hormuz would not be opened unless the United States ended its maritime blockade and fighting. The US side has presented a different position. Washington and Tehran continue to make opposing claims over the strait, while the standoff remains unresolved.
The US military said on Tuesday that it had struck a Panama-flagged vessel attempting to approach an Iranian port. Washington said the ship was violating its blockade of Iranian ports. President Donald Trump again claimed that the United States had “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz. The latest developments in the Middle East are being followed through a continuing live update.
The United States and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis reported separate attacks on shipping as hopes for ending the months-old Iran war weakened. Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would stay closed unless Washington accepted its conditions. Four crew members and two Yemeni rescuers were reportedly killed in a suspected Houthi attack, while the US said it fired missiles to disable a Panama-flagged cargo ship accused of violating a blockade on Iranian ports.
Iran’s top security official says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed unless the United States meets Iran’s conditions. The statement came as Pakistan’s Naqvi visited Tehran. Iran is therefore maintaining its position that reopening the strategic waterway depends on US compliance with its demands.
US President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz is under complete US control. He warned that the United States would strike Iran if Tehran attempted to alter that situation.
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