Global Express | August 12, 2026: Iran Stands Firm — Strait of Hormuz Will Stay Closed

1. Iran Holds Firm on Hormuz Conditions as Pakistan Mediates

Iran's newly appointed Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei made clear to China's ambassador in Tehran on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed unless the United States changes its behavior and accepts Iran's conditions. Those conditions include ending the U.S. military campaign, releasing frozen Iranian assets held abroad, and agreeing to a region-wide ceasefire encompassing Lebanon and Gaza. Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Tehran the same day, following Pakistan's defense minister stating that the U.S. and Iran are "close to some sort of arrangement." However, both sides remain entrenched, with the U.S. military and Yemen's Houthis launching attacks on cargo vessels in the Gulf of Oman and Bab al-Mandeb strait respectively.

The Strait of Hormuz crisis has now stretched for months, with roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments passing through the waterway. The Trump administration has oscillated between threats of escalation and assurances of an imminent peace deal, leaving allies unsettled. The International Energy Agency has warned that a prolonged closure would severely disrupt global oil markets.

2. Russia Strikes Ukraine with North Korean Missiles, 12 Killed

Russia launched a major overnight barrage across Ukraine, killing at least 12 people and wounding dozens. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of using North Korean-supplied ballistic missiles in an attack on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, where seven civilian workers at the Metinvest steel plant were killed and 21 injured. A children's hospital in Kyiv was also struck in the attacks.

Zelenskyy warned on social media that "every step Russia takes — increasing ballistic missile production, bringing in North Korean equipment, preparing for mobilization — all of this shows that Moscow is preparing not for peace, but for escalation." Ukraine's critical shortage of Patriot air defense interceptors has worsened since Washington shifted its diplomatic focus to the Iran conflict.

3. Syrian Court Sentences Assad to Death in Absentia

A Damascus court on Tuesday sentenced ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his younger brother Maher to death in absentia for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during Syria's 14-year civil war, which claimed approximately half a million lives. This marks the first judicial proceeding against Assad since the conflict began.

Assad is currently in exile in Russia, and Moscow has not commented on the verdict. International human rights organizations welcomed the ruling as a significant step toward justice for Syrian victims, though the sentence is largely symbolic given Assad's protected status in Russia.

4. North Korea Fires Second Ballistic Missile in a Week

North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan early Wednesday, with the projectile flying more than 700 kilometers before splashing down. It was Pyongyang's second such test in less than a week. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it has bolstered surveillance and is closely sharing information with Washington and Tokyo.

The launch came as South Korea and the United States announced plans to hold their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military drills starting August 17, involving 18,000 South Korean troops. "North Korea has never simply let a South Korea-US joint military exercise pass without a response," said Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at Kyungnam University. "This is a message that Pyongyang is closely watching the upcoming drills."

5. Panama Canal Fees Hit Record High as Ship Pays $4 Million to Skip Queue

Panama Canal transit fees have surged to unprecedented levels, with daily auction prices for August transit slots averaging about $1.1 million — more than 16 times the price recorded during the same period last year. One container ship even paid $4 million to jump the queue, as waiting times now stretch beyond a week.

Two converging factors are driving the surge: falling water levels in Gatun Lake, the canal's main reservoir, due to a strengthening El Niño, and surging demand as vessels reroute from the shuttered Strait of Hormuz. Analysts warn the situation could worsen if El Niño conditions intensify further.

6. Rhine River Hits Lowest Level Since 1880, Shipping Paralyzed

Water levels at Kaub, Germany — the Rhine's shallowest point — have fallen to just 15 centimeters, the lowest since records began in 1880. With a fifth summer heat wave baking Europe this week, levels are expected to drop further. Forecasters say it would take weeks of sustained rain to restore normal conditions, meaning the crisis could drag into October.

The Rhine is a vital artery through Europe's industrial heartland, connecting Switzerland to Rotterdam, the continent's busiest port. Industrial giants including Thyssenkrupp, BASF, and Lanxess are already switching to rail and road transport where possible. Shipping broker Riverlake says parts of the river are effectively impassable, though the waterway never officially closes.

7. Miracle in Colombia: Baby Rescued from Earthquake Rubble After Whisper

As search and rescue operations entered their third day following Colombia's devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake, a remarkable rescue unfolded in the city of Cali. Rescuer Osorio approached a collapsed apartment building, shouted into the wreckage, and then asked everyone around him for silence. That was when he heard a sound — barely a whisper: "Yes, I'm here. I'm with a baby."

The earthquake, the strongest to hit Colombia this century, has killed more than 250 people, with 32 cities severely affected, 86 buildings collapsed, and seven airports suspended. Rescue teams have still been unable to reach some of the hardest-hit areas near the epicenter in remote mountainous terrain, and the death toll is expected to rise.

8. Zimbabwe Ferry Disaster: 15 Dead, 27 Missing on Lake Kariba

An overloaded ferry named "Mbuya Nehanda" capsized on Zimbabwe's Lake Kariba on Tuesday, killing at least 15 people and leaving 27 missing. The Civil Protection Unit said 77 people were rescued and taken to an island on the lake. Officials confirmed 114 adult passenger tickets were sold for a vessel with a capacity of only 90 — and an unknown number of children below ticketing age may have been aboard.

A local MP posted video showing the aging ferry departing as onlookers on shore voiced concerns about whether it could withstand strong waves on the lake. Lake Kariba, the world's largest man-made lake by volume, straddles the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The disaster has intensified scrutiny of water transport safety regulations across Africa.

9. Total Solar Eclipse Sweeps Across Europe Today

Today, August 12, a spectacular total solar eclipse will sweep across the Earth. Starting at 15:34 GMT, the Moon's shadow will travel from the Arctic across northern Russia, Greenland, and Iceland before sweeping across northern Spain and northeastern Portugal, with about 15 million people in the path of totality. This is the first total solar eclipse visible from Europe in 27 years.

Totality will last approximately two minutes and 18 seconds near the center of the path, plunging daylight into sudden darkness with stars appearing and temperatures dropping. Spain has been preparing for the rare celestial event, even as the country simultaneously contends with wildfire risk and a scorching heat wave. Astronomers remind viewers to use proper eclipse glasses — looking directly at the sun without protection can cause permanent eye damage.

10. Xi Jinping Sends Condolences to Colombia After Devastating Earthquake

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence to Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella on August 11, following the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia. Xi expressed deep condolences for the victims on behalf of the Chinese government and people, and extended sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured.

According to Colombian government reports, the earthquake has killed 132 people, injured 570, and severely damaged 32 cities. Five provincial capitals remain under red alert. The Chinese Embassy in Colombia reported no Chinese citizen casualties thus far. Xi expressed confidence that under President de la Espriella's leadership, the Colombian people would unite to overcome the disaster and rebuild their homeland.