Russia has released former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman, who had been detained since 2022 and was reported to be in severe medical distress. Advocates said he is headed for medical and psychological care in the United States.
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The Perseid meteor shower peaks Aug. 12 and 13, with the best views expected between midnight and dawn under a new moon. NASA says the shower can produce about 50 to 100 meteors per hour, while the BBC reports that especially lucky viewers could see more than 100.
A Damascus court sentenced ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia after convicting him of crimes committed during Syria’s civil war. Assad’s cousin Atef Najib was also sentenced to death, while Al Jazeera reported that Assad’s brother Maher received the same sentence in absentia.
Zelenskyy accused Russia of using North Korean ballistic missiles in overnight attacks that killed at least nine civilians in Ukraine. Russia said it targeted defence industry and logistics sites, while Ukraine also struck warehouses in Russia’s Voronezh region.
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake devastated western Colombia, killing at least 132 people and damaging or destroying about 1,600 buildings. Rescue crews, soldiers and residents are searching for survivors as thousands are reported missing.
Trump demanded compensation from Iran after Tehran conditioned reopening the Strait of Hormuz on war reparations and sanctions relief. The dispute comes as Iran-Oman talks continue and oil markets react to uncertainty over the blocked waterway.
Turkey’s parliament approved a conditional pardon-like bill for thousands of PKK militants, but it will take effect only after authorities verify the group has fully disarmed. The measure excludes Abdullah Ocalan and some senior figures, and the PKK says it falls short of broader demands.
Jackie, the well-known Big Bear bald eagle followed by livestream viewers around the world, died after more than three weeks of intensive care at Ojai Raptor Center. The center said her condition worsened despite a blood transfusion, oxygen therapy and round-the-clock monitoring.