Syrians have long demanded accountability for murders, disappearances and torture attributed to Bashar al-Assad’s regime during almost 14 years of war. A Damascus court has now sentenced Assad, his brother Maher and six other former senior officials to death in absentia over crimes committed during the conflict. Assad’s cousin, Atef Najib, the former security chief of Deraa province, attended the trial and also received a death sentence. The verdicts are being welcomed by supporters of accountability, while questions remain over Syria’s ability to deliver transitional justice.

AAl Jazeera English2026-08-12 17:30

Cooling US inflation is giving the Federal Reserve more room to maneuver, while stronger artificial-intelligence earnings are reviving the AI trade. Oil prices are wavering as Donald Trump intensifies his rhetoric over the Strait of Hormuz. The program also highlights Goldman Sachs’s $2.25 billion ETF bet, the Los Angeles Lakers’ record roughly $12 billion sale, rising launch demand discussed by Firefly CEO Jason Kim, and an AI-driven boom in warehouses described by Link Logistics CEO Luke Petherbridge.

BBloomberg Television2026-08-12 17:23

Colombian rescue teams are racing to locate people who may still be trapped beneath collapsed buildings in Cali. The search has entered its third day, two days after a powerful earthquake struck the city. The disaster has killed nearly 250 people, while crews continue combing through the ruins for survivors.

RReuters2026-08-12 17:20

Donald Trump says the United States has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz. Former CIA chief of station Dan Hoffman examines escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran around the waterway. Hoffman also describes a secret security swap in Turkey after threats to Air Force One. The report presents Trump’s declaration alongside the wider confrontation involving the U.S. and Iran.

FFox News2026-08-12 17:15

The Royal Observatory Greenwich is showing live scenes as a partial solar eclipse passes over the United Kingdom. The eclipse is expected to reach its deepest point shortly after 7pm. In some parts of the country, the Moon will cover roughly 96% of the Sun. The broadcast follows the event as it unfolds.

GGuardian News2026-08-12 17:07

A ferry on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba capsized, killing at least 44 people. The vessel was approved to carry 90 passengers and five crew members, but official ticket records indicate that 114 adults were aboard. An unknown number of children who were too young to require tickets may also be missing. Rural communities depend on the five-hour journey to reach Kariba town. Residents in Harare are questioning why the aging boat remained in service and are calling for safer vessels.

AAl Jazeera English2026-08-12 16:58

The Strait of Hormuz remains the focal point of a tense dispute between Washington and Tehran. Speaking to Al Jazeera, senior research fellow Abas Aslani linked control of the waterway to broader questions involving sanctions, war and economic pressure. He said the United States wants the strait reopened while retaining instruments of pressure. Iran, meanwhile, is seeking sanctions relief, oil sales and an end to the conflict.

AAl Jazeera English2026-08-12 16:56

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Attorney General Letitia James are holding a news conference. They are speaking about what they describe as overreach by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New York. The event brings together the state’s governor, the city’s mayor and its attorney general to address the issue publicly.

RReuters2026-08-12 16:53

Preparations are continuing across Spain ahead of a total solar eclipse. Millions of people in a broad stretch of northern and central Spain are expected to have some of the best views of the celestial spectacle available on mainland Europe. FRANCE 24 correspondent Sarah Morris reports from Segovia, Spain.

FFrance 24 English2026-08-12 16:45

Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji died on August 12 at the age of 98. During his tenure from 1998 to 2003, he pursued a series of reforms and led efforts to secure China’s entry into the World Trade Organization. Some of his policies, including those involving grain and tax reform, remained controversial, with critics saying they left problems for his successors to address more cautiously. Zhu was also known for openly acknowledging official mistakes, accepting responsibility, and using jokes in public appearances to soften the image of Communist Party officials.

VVOA Chinese2026-08-12 16:41

A live view from Medinaceli, Spain, captures a total solar eclipse. Millions of people are experiencing the rare astronomical event. The coverage focuses on the eclipse as it unfolds in Spain.

TThe Associated Press2026-08-12 16:34

The Trump administration is caught in a diplomatic standoff after Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused the United States of sending officials to meddle in Brazil’s elections. Washington rejected the allegation as baseless. The report places the dispute within a longer history of accusations that the US has sought to shape political developments abroad, ranging from subtle incentives for preferred outcomes to covert support for coups against foreign governments. It says President Trump has taken a more active approach in recent years.

BBBC News2026-08-12 16:30

Madeleine Rivera examines what is described as a “split verdict” for progressives after Tuesday’s primary elections. Co-hosts of Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” react to the results. The framing presents the outcome as a major setback for a Democratic socialist candidate while suggesting that progressive contenders had mixed performances across the primaries.

FFox News2026-08-12 16:30

Thousands of people gather across Europe to watch a total solar eclipse. Millions of viewers are also following the astronomical event. Live coverage shows the eclipse as it takes place across the continent.

GGuardian News2026-08-12 16:19

Cali resident Brian Osorio Zuluaga recounts how he and others used their bare hands to clear debris after a building collapsed in the Colombia earthquake. They were trying to reach a man who was shielding a baby beneath the rubble, despite warnings that gas might be leaking. In Pereira, a woman says residents recovered seven bodies and five survivors from the wreckage. Authorities are racing against time as rescue efforts continue.

CCNN2026-08-12 16:12

Businesses in Khartoum are struggling as Sudan endures a power cut lasting two weeks. Supermarket owner Ahmed Yaqoub checks his generator repeatedly each day and spends about $500 daily on fuel to keep refrigeration equipment operating. Authorities attribute the nationwide blackout to damage at the Merowe Hydroelectric station, which provides more than half of Sudan’s electricity and has been repeatedly targeted since 2023. With an estimated 3,000-megawatt shortfall, many Sudanese cannot afford generators or solar equipment.

AAl Jazeera English2026-08-12 16:11

Investors are pouring into European stocks after the region delivered its strongest earnings season in almost four years. Jitania Kandhari of Morgan Stanley Investment Management says Europe’s drive for strategic autonomy, investment and infrastructure is helping give its companies an edge. The focus is on the forces drawing capital toward European markets and the advantages those companies are gaining.

RReuters2026-08-12 16:07

Thousands of people are gathering to watch a total solar eclipse across Europe and parts of North America. Viewing is taking place in Spain, Norway, Iceland, Germany and the United Kingdom. Parts of Canada and the United States are also witnessing the eclipse. The event is drawing crowds across several countries as it passes over the region.

RReuters2026-08-12 16:03

Media projections indicate that Darline Graham, the sister of Lindsey Graham, has moved on to a runoff for the Republican nomination. The contest is for South Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat. The seat will be decided in November’s election. The primary process follows her brother’s death.

RReuters2026-08-12 15:59

Singer Becky G spoke with Gayle King about touring alongside Karol G and the close bond the two pop stars have developed. Becky G described their relationship as a beautiful friendship and said she is deeply thankful for it. She added that over the years, the pair have earned and built that connection with one another.

CCBS News2026-08-12 15:57

Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, known as the “iron-blooded premier,” died in Beijing on Aug. 12 at the age of 98. He was remembered for forcefully advancing reforms in taxation, finance and state-owned enterprises, as well as leading China’s entry into the World Trade Organization. Some recalled his firm reform agenda, while others remembered his humor and outspokenness, or the pain caused by state-enterprise changes. Zhu also visited Singapore in 1999, studying its housing and Jurong industrial district. His death marks the departure of a major figure from China’s reform era.

LLianhe Zaobao2026-08-12 15:57

Scientists and astronomy enthusiasts from around the world are watching a total solar eclipse from Spain’s Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory. The observatory is described as an international hotspot for astronomy. It is located in Arcos de las Salinas, near Teruel, where observers have gathered to view the event.

RReuters2026-08-12 15:55

Lake Tanganyika continues to rise and encroach on the eastern Congolese city of Uvira. Faida Mahombi and other families have been forced to leave their homes as the flooding persists. The inundation has lasted nearly a year, requiring residents to adapt to the prolonged disruption caused by the water.

RReuters2026-08-12 15:54

The New York Police Department says it will not provide a security escort for the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during her upcoming travel to Syria and Lebanon. The department cited high-level travel advisories for the destinations. The decision centers on security arrangements for the mayor’s family member and the police response to the request.

FFox News2026-08-12 15:45