KeyLang Daily News - 2026年8月12日

📰 English Version

Hello, and welcome to KeyLang Daily News for August 12, 2026. Today we bring you twenty stories from around the world. We will cover a powerful earthquake in Colombia, new developments in the Middle East, elections in South Asia, and more. As always, we aim to report the facts clearly and fairly. Let's begin.

🌪️ Colombia earthquake death toll rises to at least 224

A powerful earthquake struck western and central Colombia early on Monday, and authorities say the death toll has climbed to at least 224. The 7.4 magnitude quake was the strongest to hit the country in decades. It flattened buildings in cities such as Cali, Pereira and Manizales, where a cathedral spire collapsed. Officials warned that the number of casualties could rise further, as thousands of people remain missing.

🌪️ Rescue teams and volunteers search collapsed buildings in Colombia

Rescue teams in Colombia worked through the night, aided by police, soldiers and thousands of volunteers. Workers used excavators and sometimes their bare hands to search collapsed buildings. A Red Cross official said rescuers had detected sounds that might indicate survivors beneath the rubble. He added they had about twenty-four hours left to find people alive. In Cali, volunteers said they had already freed several people trapped in the debris.

🌍 New Colombian president faces first major crisis

Colombia's new president, Abelardo De La Espriella, who took office only days ago, is facing his first major crisis. He said one thousand members of the security forces would be sent to Cali after reports of looting. The cities of Cali and Pereira imposed overnight curfews. The president said there were no ideological divisions when it came to helping the people affected by the disaster.

🌍 EU and other nations offer support to Colombia

Several countries and organisations offered support to Colombia after the earthquake. The European Union said it had activated its satellite service and was providing funding through the Red Cross. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences and said his country stood in solidarity with Colombia. The disaster has drawn comparisons to a 1999 quake in the same coffee-growing region, which killed more than one thousand people.

⚔️ Zelensky says Russia used North Korean missiles in strikes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian attacks killed at least seven people in the city of Zaporizhzhia early on Tuesday. He said the strikes involved ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea, a Russian ally. Zelensky also warned that Moscow was receiving more missiles and troops from Pyongyang, though he did not provide evidence. Russia and North Korea have not commented on the specific claim.

🌍 Former Syrian president sentenced to death in absentia

A court in Syria has sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia. He and his brother were convicted of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the country's fourteen-year conflict. The war is estimated to have left about half a million people dead. Assad, who was removed from power, is not in the country and was tried without being present.

🌍 Saudi Arabia opposed Egypt joining Mecca defence pact, sources say

Three Saudi sources told Middle East Eye that Saudi Arabia opposed including Egypt in a new defence agreement signed with Turkey and Pakistan. The sources said Riyadh felt Egypt no longer offered the same strategic or military value. They pointed to frustration with President Sisi's government and its ties with the United Arab Emirates. The sources said the door was not closed to Egypt joining in the future.

⚔️ Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign joint defence agreement

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was signed last week by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. Under the pact, an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack on all three. Saudi officials described it as a way to strengthen joint defence. However, the agreement remains unclear on how military help would actually be provided in a crisis.

🌍 Turkey and Saudi Arabia give differing accounts on Egypt

Turkish officials said they had made significant efforts to include Egypt in the defence pact and had formally proposed it. According to Turkish sources, the other countries decided to proceed without Cairo once it became clear Egypt was not ready to join. Saudi sources, however, disputed this account, saying Egypt would have been eager to join. The differing versions highlight tensions over the region's new security arrangements.

🌍 US rights groups sue over ICC sanctions

Four US-based rights groups have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its sanctions on the International Criminal Court. The groups called the sanctions blatantly illegal and said they violated constitutional rights. They argued the measures had forced them to stop parts of their human rights and legal work. The administration has said the court engaged in illegitimate actions targeting the United States and Israel.

🌍 US says it aims to dismantle the ICC

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the administration is working to dismantle the International Criminal Court brick by brick. He wrote that the court's actions threatened American sovereignty. Last month, the new Venezuelan government withdrew from the court, a move the State Department welcomed. The ICC is currently examining alleged crimes in sixteen situations, including Ukraine, Darfur and Myanmar.

🌍 Israel and Venezuela restore diplomatic relations

Israel and Venezuela announced they had restored official diplomatic relations after seventeen years. The two sides said they would set up a mechanism to provide consular services to each other's citizens. Ties were cut in 2009 under then-President Hugo Chavez during an Israeli military operation in Gaza. The move comes under acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who has shifted Venezuela closer to the United States.

🌍 Several Latin American states move closer to Israel

Venezuela's announcement came the same day that neighbouring Colombia recognised Israeli control over the Golan Heights, an area widely regarded under international law as part of Syria. Colombia's new president has also said he plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem. Last week, Honduras returned its ambassador to Israel. Several Latin American countries have moved closer to Israel following the election of right-wing leaders.

🌍 Carlson says he was pushed to report false claim about Hunter Biden

US commentator Tucker Carlson said that people connected to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed him to report a false claim about Hunter Biden in 2020. He said the claim, involving the abuse of minors, was not true and had been attributed to Russian sources. Hunter Biden, who appeared in the interview, said several parties spread material from his laptop. There is no evidence supporting the false claim.

⚔️ Man shot dead after alleged shooting in Rawalpindi

In Pakistan, police said a man was shot dead on Mall Road in Rawalpindi after he allegedly opened fire on security personnel, wounding one official. Police said items linked to a political party were found on him, and the government's information minister blamed the opposition PTI party. The PTI, however, distanced itself from the incident, saying it believed in peaceful, unarmed politics and rejected any link to violence.

🌍 Re-polling ordered in Pakistan-administered Kashmir

Election authorities in Pakistan-administered Kashmir have ordered re-polling at some stations in two constituencies of Bagh district on August fifteenth. Officials said voting at those stations could not begin on time or was disrupted. Monday's vote was the third and final phase of the regional elections. So far, the PML-N party has won twenty-four seats, while the PPP has won ten.

🌍 Dispute over recount in Kashmir election

The elections have been marked by disputes between the two governing allies. In one constituency, a PML-N candidate demanded a recount, alleging that result forms had been tampered with. He said signed results in his possession showed a clear winning margin. State media, however, reported that the sitting prime minister had won the seat. The commission said it would decide after reviewing the records.

🌍 Civil society groups warn against Congo referendum

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, sixty-five civil society organisations have urged President Felix Tshisekedi to abandon plans for a constitutional referendum. The groups warned against the proposed vote and expressed concern about its possible effects. Supporters of the referendum say it is needed to update the constitution. The president has not announced a final decision on whether the vote will go ahead.

🌱 Rise in crocodile encounters in Puerto Vallarta

In Mexico, officials in Jalisco state and the resort city of Puerto Vallarta are dealing with a rise in encounters between people and crocodiles. Authorities said they face a dual challenge: protecting residents and visitors from crocodiles, and protecting the animals from humans. The reptiles are a protected species in the region. Officials are working on measures to reduce dangerous encounters on beaches and waterways.

🌪️ Colombia hospital floors collapse as aftershocks continue

In Cali, one of Colombia's largest cities, several upper floors of a hospital collapsed, including areas used for children's care. The hospital director said some patients were trapped, while about six hundred others had to be treated on the street. Officials reported that the earthquake damaged more than five thousand homes across the affected region. Aftershocks continued on Tuesday as rescue work went on.

That's all for today's twenty stories from around the world. Thank you for listening to KeyLang Daily News. We hope these reports help you follow global events and improve your English at the same time. Please join us again tomorrow, and until then, take care.