World News Roundup — August 13, 2026 (NOON)

Europe’s fifth heatwave of the summer bakes the continent, Colombia’s far-right president confronts a deadly earthquake within hours of taking office, and Vladimir Putin makes a provocative first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands. The day’s other main stories: a FIFA president under mounting pressure, Lionel Messi returning to action days after his father’s death, and astronomers already looking forward to next summer’s “eclipse of the century”.

Colombia’s new government faces earthquake test

Headline. A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia barely 72 hours after far-right President Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in, killing more than 260 people, injuring thousands and devastating cities and towns. De la Espriella declared the disaster an “economic emergency” and announced three days of national mourning, then toured the worst-affected areas. The response has been complicated by a failed transition from the outgoing leftist administration of Gustavo Petro, leaving the National Disaster Risk Management Unit in limbo with officials from two governments forced to work together. Heavy machinery was operating in Cali and Pereira within 24 hours, but in smaller towns near the epicentre in Chocó residents were still removing rubble by hand without power or basic services.

Europe’s heatwave brings 35C+ to 135 million people

Headline. More than 135 million people across France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom face temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius as Europe’s latest heatwave builds. Forecasters warned of 38C in central and southeast England and up to 40C in France, possibly the hottest day of the year. The UK’s Royal College of Nursing said on Thursday that extreme heat is making parts of the National Health Service an “impossible and inhumane” place to work, with staff collapsing on shift, heat-related seizures and pregnant nurses working in wards above 30C. More than a thousand wildfires have already been recorded in England and Wales this year, and falling river levels have exposed Nazi-era warship wrecks beneath the Danube. Britain’s Met Office said only average conditions were needed for the rest of August to beat last year’s record for the hottest year.

Trump administration faces pressure from courts and watchdog

Headline. The Department of Homeland Security plans to spend between $10 million and $20 million by the end of March 2027 on electric-shock gloves for ICE officers, drawing fierce criticism from rights advocates who fear the devices will be used against protesters and immigrants. The so-called CT-G5 gloves, marketed for “distraction and de-escalation”, can deliver up to 380 volts. ICE agents have been accused of at least four shooting deaths and dozens of in-custody deaths this year. Separately, federal agents arrested a Southern Poverty Law Center expert for fraud, media organisations sued over paid access to public social-media posts, and a GAO report found that Elon Musk’s DOGE inflated its claimed savings by tens of billions. The administration is also weighing a cut to the capital-gains tax on home sales.

Putin visits Kuril Islands, prompting Tokyo rebuke

Headline. President Vladimir Putin made his first-ever visit to the Kuril Islands on Thursday, drawing an angry rebuke from Japan, which claims the southernmost isles as its Northern Territories. Putin used the visit to reassert Russia’s territorial claims and to protest Japan’s ongoing sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine, telling reporters that Russia is “not threatening Japan” while Russia holds large-scale military drills in the neighbouring seas. Japan summoned Russia’s ambassador to protest and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the visit “hurts the feelings of the Japanese people and is absolutely unacceptable.” In a separate analysis, the New York Times noted that Trump’s recent Air Force One ruse pales next to the secrecy surrounding Putin’s movements, which include near-identical offices at multiple residences, a presidential train with secret stations and government officials told to play along with disinformation about meeting dates.

FIFA’s Infantino defiant as pressure grows

Headline. African football chief Patrice Motsepe says Gianni Infantino’s future should be decided by elections, even as Ireland became the latest federation to withdraw support for the embattled FIFA president. UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC issued a joint letter declaring that “trust is broken through deception” over Infantino’s aborted plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. Six Arab federations — including Qatar, Morocco and Egypt — gave Infantino their backing on Thursday, with Motsepe arguing the proposals would still go to FIFA members for final approval. Separately, the European Broadcasting Union said any country involved in an “armed conflict” or “sensitive geopolitical situation” will no longer be allowed to host the Eurovision Song Contest — a change that may block Israel from hosting, though it can still compete.

Messi plays on after father’s death, hints at retirement

Headline. Lionel Messi made an emotional return to action on Wednesday, playing the second half of Inter Miami’s 3-2 Leagues Cup loss to Leon after attending his father’s funeral in Argentina. Earlier in the day Messi posted a tribute to his father Jorge — his former agent who died last week at 68 — admitting he had “serious doubts” about continuing to play: “I don’t know what I’ll do without you, I don’t know how to go on.” The Miami captain came on at half-time to a massive ovation but his team was eliminated from the tournament for the first time in its opening phase since the Leagues Cup was expanded. Leon coach Javier Gandolfi called Messi “a human being that is different to the rest” for playing through grief.

Astronomers look ahead to the 2027 ’eclipse of the century'

Headline. Following Thursday’s partial solar eclipse, which carved the Eiffel Tower’s silhouette across the Paris sky and prompted an Olympic skateboarder to time a stunt with the cosmic alignment, astronomers are already looking forward to next summer’s “eclipse of the century”. On August 12, 2027, the sky will go dark for six minutes or more over landmarks including the Rock of Gibraltar, the casbah of Tangier and the temples of Luxor, Egypt. The New York Times marked the event by revisiting the moment a US Navy squadron photographed the last total solar eclipse visible from Spain in 1905.

In Brief

• Turkiye-Pakistan-Saudi defence pact. Turkiye has laid out the “mechanisms” of a new trilateral defence pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Al Jazeera
• Mount Etna. Hundreds of flights were cancelled in Sicily after Mount Etna erupted, sending ash across the island’s airspace. NYT
• Romania nuclear plant. Falling flow on the Danube has forced the shutdown of Romania’s sole nuclear power plant. Al Jazeera
• Lakers sold for $12.5bn. Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger are buying the Los Angeles Lakers from Mark Walter in a record-breaking $12.5bn deal. Al Jazeera CNBC
• US inflation cools. Wholesale prices were flat in July while consumer inflation slowed, though energy remains up nearly 15% on the year. Al Jazeera CNBC
• Trump-linked Greenland oil venture. A Trump-linked oil venture has delayed Greenland drilling plans after a government warning. CNBC
• Singapore ship crash. A Singapore-flagged container ship has crashed into a riverbank in India. Al Jazeera

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