**Summary:** Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned Washington to be careful after US President Donald Trump claimed total US control over the Strait of Hormuz.

**Key points:**
- President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that the US maintains total control over the Strait of Hormuz with a naval blockade.
- Abbas Araghchi dismissed the statements as fake intelligence and accused the US of miscalculating.
- Hossein Taeb, a close ally of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, claimed the US started another war in the strait but has failed.
- Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has faced diplomatic impasses and stalled supplies following previous conflicts.

**Why it matters:** Disputes over control of the Strait of Hormuz threaten vital global oil shipping routes and heighten tensions between Washington and Tehran.

almomento.net - Trump dice no confía en Irán y asegura que EU controla Ormuz

egyptindependent.com - Iranian foreign minister slams “fake news” after Trump claims US control of Hormuz

Iran slams US Strait of Hormuz claims

**Summary:** Following a similar move in Ceuta, Spain's Guardia Civil has begun installing a new maritime barrier in Melilla amid heightened diplomatic tensions involving Spanish officials and Morocco.

**Key points:**
- The installation follows recent declarations made by Moroccan officials, prompting a sharper diplomatic tone from Spain regarding Ceuta and Melilla.
- The Guardia Civil initiated the construction of the new maritime security barrier off the coast of Melilla.

**Why it matters:** The installation of new maritime barriers and escalating rhetoric between Spain and Morocco highlight ongoing sensitivity and border security challenges surrounding the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.

yabiladi.com - Après Ceuta, la Guardia civil espagnole installe une nouvelle barrière maritime à Melilla

yabiladi.com - Ceuta - Melilla : Après les déclarations de Ouahbi, l’Espagne hausse le ton

ar.yabiladi.com - بعد سبتة .. الحرس المدني الإسباني يشرع في تركيب حاجز بحري جديد بمليلية

Spain Installs New Maritime Barrier in Melilla Following Ceuta

**Summary:** Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi issued a firm protest after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the disputed island of Iturup in the Kuril chain.

**Key points:**
- Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to the island of Iturup, known in Japan as Etorofu, following naval drills in Russia's Far Eastern Sakhalin region.
- Tokyo maintains that the southern Kuril Islands, referred to in Japan as the Northern Territories, are its original territory under historical and legal grounds.
- The territorial dispute over the islands has prevented Russia and Japan from concluding a formal World War II peace treaty.
- During the trip, Putin inspected local facilities including a fish-processing plant and met with residents.

**Why it matters:** The visit heightens ongoing tensions between Moscow and Tokyo over the unresolved territorial dispute, further straining diplomatic relations that have already deteriorated amid the Ukraine crisis.

newsonjapan.com - Putin Makes First Trip to Etorofu Island

keski-uusimaa.fi - Putin vieraili kiistellyillä Kuriilien saarilla, Japanilta jyrkkä reaktio

tagesschau.de - Kritik aus Japan: Putin besucht umstrittene Kurilen-Insel

actualidad.rt.com - Japón persiste en una vieja reclamación territorial contra Rusia tras visita de Putin

asiaone.com - Putin visits Japan-claimed islands for first time ; Tokyo protests

shorouknews.com - اليابان تحتج على زيارة بوتين لجزر الكوريل

Japan protests Putin's visit to disputed Kuril Islands

**Summary:** Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji has passed away at the age of 98 after medical treatment failed. Known for his tenure from 1998 to 2003, he left a lasting mark on economic policy and cross-strait relations.

**Key points:**
- Zhu Rongji served as China's Premier from 1998 to 2003 and was known for titles such as 'iron-faced premier' and 'economic czar'.
- During the 2000 Taiwan presidential election, he issued a stern warning that anyone pursuing Taiwanese independence would face no good outcome.
- His career included pushing forward structural reforms, tackling anti-corruption efforts, and guiding China's entry into the World Trade Organization.
- He was remembered for his direct and colorful public remarks, spanning from national press conferences to speeches at Tsinghua University.

**Why it matters:** The death of Zhu Rongji marks the passing of a major political and economic architect of modern China who shaped the country's domestic reforms and foreign relations during a critical historical period.

zaobao.com.sg - 朱镕基选前三天警告 谁搞台独就没好下场 陈水扁后险胜上台

stheadline.com - 朱鎔基逝世 ︱ 字字珠璣言顯風骨 公開講話金句連連

Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Passes Away at Age 98

**Summary:** Yaoundé is grappling with a mounting waste management crisis as thousands of tonnes of household garbage accumulate across neighborhoods like Biyem-Assi and Nsimeyong, raising environmental and health concerns.

**Key points:**
- The capital city produces between 2,000 and 3,000 tonnes of household waste daily, driven by population growth and urbanization.
- Residents report that only about half of the generated waste is collected and treated, leaving gutters obstructed and streets lined with refuse.
- Local authorities attribute part of the crisis to a structural imbalance in waste processing capacity alongside citizen incivism.

**Why it matters:** The piling waste and disappearance of trash bins in densely populated districts create severe health and sanitation risks for millions of residents in Cameroon's capital.

camer.be - Cameroun - Ordures à Yaoundé : la capitale devient une poubelle

Yaoundé Faces Garbage Crisis as Waste Accumulates in Neighborhoods

**Summary:** Following a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia, President Abelardo de la Espriella declared three days of national mourning as the death toll surpassed 200.

**Key points:**
- The seismic event on August 10 had its epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó, and is recorded as the strongest in Colombia this century.
- Regional authorities estimate the death toll is near 240, while over 2,000 people have been injured and numerous buildings collapsed in cities like Cali and Pereira.
- The United States announced a $15.5 million emergency aid package alongside a Disaster Assistance Response Team, while other international donors including the European Union and Spain pledged funding.
- Rescue workers and volunteers continue searching through rubble within the critical 72-hour window following the tremor.

**Why it matters:** The deadliest earthquake to hit Colombia in decades has left widespread structural destruction across multiple departments, prompting a national state of emergency and international humanitarian mobilization.

opinion.com.bo - El número de muertos en Colombia sube a 221 tras el terremoto

subrayado.com.uy - Socorristas trabajan sin descanso para encontrar sobrevivientes del terremoto en Colombia

diariocorreo.pe - Colombia decreta tres días de duelo nacional por víctimas del terremoto de magnitud 7,4

elfinanciero.com.mx - Colombia declara 3 días de luto nacional por víctimas del sismo magnitud 7.4

tribuneonlineng.com - 180 dead in Colombia earthquake as rescuers scramble for survivors

Colombia Declares Three Days of National Mourning After Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake

**Summary:** A rare total solar eclipse crossing the Iberian Peninsula and parts of France coincides with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.

**Key points:**
- The solar eclipse will be observable across a large part of the Iberian Peninsula and parts of southwestern France.
- The peak of the Perseid meteor shower is set to occur overnight, bringing up to one hundred shooting stars per hour under favorable conditions.
- Experts advise against forcing pets to watch the eclipse or using human eclipse glasses on animals.
- Additional celestial bodies, including Venus, Saturn, and Mars, will also be visible during the night.

**Why it matters:** The rare convergence of a total solar eclipse and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower offers an exceptional astronomical event, while prompting animal welfare advisories for pet owners.

No, no es recomendable poner las gafas de eclipse a los perros ni obligarles a mirar

Après l'éclipse du 12 août, un autre phénomène exceptionnel sera visible dans le ciel toute la nuit

DIRECT. Eclipse solaire du 12 août : le phénomène dans votre commune, sélection de spots, conseils pratiques... suivez les dernières informations

Total Solar Eclipse and Perseid Meteor Shower Align in European Skies

**Summary:** Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow will retaliate against European countries if they seize Russian commercial vessels, calling the measures acts of piracy.

**Key points:**
- Putin stated he has instructed the Russian Ministry of Defense to prepare appropriate countermeasures at locations chosen by Russia.
- The warning comes amid escalating European Union pressure and asset restrictions targeting Russia's shadow fleet of tankers used to bypass petroleum sanctions.
- During his visit to the Sakhalin region, Putin also criticized growing NATO activities and military-political blocs forming in the Asia-Pacific area.

**Why it matters:** Potential retaliatory actions regarding commercial shipping threaten to further escalate maritime trade tensions, raising risk premiums for energy and commodity transport between Europe and Russia.

Putin'den Avrupa'ya rest: "Karşılık vereceğiz"

Putinden Avrupaya gemi resti : Aynı şekilde karşılık veririz

Putin Warns of Retaliation Against European Seizure of Russian Ships