Aug 12, 2026, 08:00 PM UTC

Washington and Tehran have offered conflicting accounts regarding potential agreements to restore transit through the Strait of Hormuz. US officials voiced optimism that a deal brokered through Qatari mediation could be reached shortly to reopen the blocked waterway. However, Iranian representatives denied engaging in direct negotiations with Washington.

Adding to diplomatic friction, US President Donald Trump stated he would seek financial reparations from Tehran over casualties linked to Iranian actions abroad and domestic security responses.

Meanwhile, Iranian diplomatic spokesperson Esmaïl Baghaï reported that Iran and Oman reached an agreement on a new navigational channel. Baghaï indicated that "the geographical coordinates of the route planned by both parties have been approved," provided external forces do not interfere.

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération, RTBF Info.

Former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte defended his government's pandemic response during a parliamentary Covid inquiry hearing in Rome, rejecting allegations of misconduct. Addressing lawmakers for more than three hours, the Five Star Movement leader insisted all emergency measures were lawful, stating, "Dig all you want, there was no wrongdoing on my part."

Conte revealed he had submitted an anonymous document to Rome prosecutors regarding a 100-million-euro mask contract with JC Electronics to investigate potential counterfeiting. He cautioned against turning the inquiry into a political instrument against the opposition, urging an objective assessment of Italy's management during the health crisis.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica.

Rescue operations are ongoing across Colombia following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck near San José del Palmar on August 10. Authorities declared a national state of emergency to deploy military personnel and emergency crews to clear debris and search for survivors.

Reported casualty counts vary among sources as rescue efforts unfold. Moldova1 reports at least 164 fatalities, while Digi24 and Ziarul de Gardă put the death toll at 132 with more than 500 people injured. Earlier reports from Adevărul and HotNews cited lower initial casualties of 20 and dozens, respectively. Officials caution that victim numbers could rise as responders search collapsed buildings. The tremor, centered roughly 107 kilometers deep, was also felt in neighboring Ecuador.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă.

Russian forces launched a series of missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, causing extensive casualties and structural damage across multiple regions. In Kyiv and its surrounding areas, overnight strikes resulted in at least 15 deaths and ignited widespread fires in residential and commercial sites. Local officials described the attack as one of the most severe aerial bombardments on the capital to date.

In southern and eastern Ukraine, authorities reported heavy shelling and drone strikes hitting Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, five people were killed and 16 injured, including victims of a drone strike near Kryvyi Rih.

Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry stated its forces captured the Donetsk settlements of Vasyutinske and Toretsk. Ukrainian military officials confirmed intense ongoing battles along the eastern front line without acknowledging the loss of either location.

Sources: Adevărul, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă

Southern and Central Europe are contending with a fourth major heatwave this summer, bringing near-record temperatures, severe drought conditions, and widespread health warnings across the region.

Italian authorities have issued red weather alerts for 27 major cities, including Messina and Reggio Calabria, as forecasts predict temperatures approaching 40°C will persist. Health officials advised citizens to seek shelter during peak daylight hours following reports of heat-related deaths.

Meanwhile, Austria registered a preliminary all-time national temperature record of 40.8°C in a suburb of Vienna. Additional extreme heat warnings have been issued across France and the United Kingdom, where forecasts also indicate temperatures near 40°C amidst heightened wildfire risks.

Sources: Aftenposten, Berlingske, DR, TV 2 Nyheter, VG (Verdens Gang)