Former Syrian President Assad sentenced to death in absentia

Solar eclipse visible across large parts of Europe

Millions of people on the western fringes of Europe have witnessed their first total solar eclipse of this century. Also in the programme: Israeli settlers are continuing to trap two Palestinian families in their homes in the occupied West Bank, after clashing earlier with the Israeli security forces; what was behind the mass poisoning of 14 elephants in Kenya -- a terrible accident or deliberate harm?; and Spotify says it's cracking down on AI generated music to protect HUMAN artists. (Photo: Partial solar eclipse in Britain, London, United Kingdom - 12 Aug 2026. Credit: EPA)

IDF clashes with settlers surrounding Palestinian homes

The security forces moved in to try to force the settlers away from the homes in the village of Qusra, south of Nablus. But reports from the scene say more settlers then arrived, and the security forces withdrew. Also on the programme: Germany is planning to loosen restrictions on its spy agencies to counter domestic and foreign threats; and we hear from an Italian scientist preparing a new solar instrument to measure the Sun's corona during the eclipse. (Photo: A view shows Nablus city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 16, 2025. Credit: Reuters/Mohammed Torokman)

Former Syrian President Assad sentenced to death in absentia

A court in Syria has sentenced the ousted president, Bashar al-Assad, to death for crimes against humanity committed during the country's civil war. His cousin who was in charge of political security in Daraa province where the uprising began was also sentenced to death. We find out how the ruling has been received in Syria and whether justice has been served. Also in the programme: Does the earthquake in Colombia pose a challenge for the newly inaugurated president, Abelardo de la Espriella? And we hear about the scramble for the right glasses in Europe to catch a safe glimpse of Wednesday's solar eclipse. (Photo: Syria's President Bashar al-Assad speaks during an interview with Australia's SBS News channel in this handout picture provided by SANA on July 1, 2016. Credit: Sana/Handout via Reuters.)

Search for survivors after Colombia earthquake

Rescuers worked through the night looking for survivors trapped under dozens of collapsed buildings. The cities of Cali and Pereira were among the places worst hit. Also on the programme: A Palestinian family in the West Bank says their house has been surrounded by Israeli settlers who they say have cut off their water and electricity; and Chinese authorities are warning of a rise in fake matchmaking agencies preying on the country's growing number of single men. (Photo: Dozens of buildings have collapsed in the city of Cali. Credit: Reuters)

Earthquake in Colombia kills over 100 people

An earthquake in western Colombia has killed more than 100 people and caused significant damage. The seven point four magnitude quake's epicentre was in the Choco region between Medellin and Cali - where dozens of buildings have collapsed. We talk to the mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder. Also in the programme: Police in eastern India have used tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of young people protesting against alleged corruption in civil service examinations. And 40 years on from its release, we've been hearing about the singer-songwriter, Paul Simon's controversial album, Graceland, from Ashley Kahn, the former member of the Graceland-tour production team. (Photo: People search through the rubble of a collapsed building following an earthquake in Cali, Colombia, 10 August 2026. Credit Ernesto Guzman JR/EPA/Shutterstock )