Daybreak: 12 August 2026, Colombia earthquake, Russia-North Korea ties and Caspian security

On 12 August, AnewZ’s Daybreak focused on the aftermath of Colombia’s devastating earthquake, tensions surrounding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, growing Russia-North Korea military cooperation and security and environmental challenges across the Caspian and Black Sea regions.

Colombia earthquake rescue efforts

The programme led with rescue operations in western Colombia, where at least 250 people were reported killed and more than 1,600 injured. Crews continued searching collapsed buildings in Cali and Pereira, while thousands remained missing and damaged infrastructure left some communities without electricity and other essential services.

Iran and Strait of Hormuz tensions

Daybreak also covered mounting tensions over Iran’s maritime blockade after U.S. forces struck a commercial vessel they said had ignored warnings to stop. Tehran maintained that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until its conditions were met, including an end to the U.S. naval blockade, while talks with Oman continued over shipping arrangements.

Russia-North Korea military cooperation

The programme examined Ukraine’s warning that Russia is preparing to deploy additional North Korean troops and has received more ballistic missiles from Pyongyang. Retired Ukrainian Armed Forces Colonel Andrii Ordynovych discussed how battlefield experience in Ukraine could improve North Korea’s military capabilities and create wider security risks for countries in the Indo-Pacific.

Caspian Sea cooperation

Daybreak marked 20 years since the Tehran Convention entered into force, as Iran prepares to host representatives of the five Caspian littoral states in September. Vadim Ni, co-founder of the Save the Caspian Sea movement, discussed the convention’s role in regional environmental cooperation and the need for stronger implementation as the sea faces declining water levels, pollution and growing pressure on its ecosystem.

Global headlines

Daybreak also covered heightened security around critical energy infrastructure in NATO’s eastern flank, the discovery of two drones near Romania’s Neptun Deep gas project, North Korea’s latest ballistic missile launch, the sentencing of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in absentia, Pakistan’s concerns over the economic impact of the Middle East conflict and political developments in Hungary.

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