Daily Digest — 13 Aug 2026

The Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, with Iran’s Persian Gulf Authority insisting it will not reopen until its conditions are accepted, directly contradicting claims from the US. Oil prices edged down 0.2% to $⁠83.13, but the disruption continues to threaten global supply chains. Meanwhile, three Palestinian families in Qusra, occupied West Bank, remain besieged in their homes by Israeli settlers, a stark reminder of the ongoing daily pressures in the region.

The UK is grappling with extreme heat, with an amber warning in force as temperatures could reach 38°C. Nurses are fainting in “inhumane” conditions, and the government is exploring upgrading women’s prisons to ease overcrowding. A rare solar eclipse wowed millions across the UK and Europe, covering over 95% of the Sun in Cornwall. In Ukraine, Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitry Muratov told the BBC that Putin can no longer claim victory, only “destroy Ukraine, not conquer it”.

Bitcoin slipped near $⁠63,500 as traders digested an in-line CPI print, with Jackson Hole and jobs data now in focus. Dogecoin speculation has returned to October 2025 levels, though the price is down 70%. A coalition of Bitcoin firms including Coinbase and Block has asked AI labs for the same tools attackers already have, arguing that safety guardrails block legitimate security work.

In tech, Anthropic faces backlash over new watermarks that some users say will catch them cheating at jobs or classes. Northrop’s robotic space mechanic is attempting to attach a new thruster to an aging satellite. DeepSeek released V4 Pro 0813, a large mixture-of-experts model, while Tailscale traced a database corruption bug to a 16-year-old SQLite issue. South Korea’s Kospi has staged a stunning comeback, returning to bull-market territory as investors pile into semiconductor giants.

Elsewhere, search efforts in Colombia enter a final phase after a quake killed 265 people, with the president promising an emergency fund. An oil spill from a stricken tanker has reached Oman’s coast, affecting up to 40km of coastline. Zambia votes in an election seen as a test of economic reforms. And the daily reflection reminds us of Allah’s name Al Hakam, the Supreme Judge, whose justice encompasses all.

References

1. The Sovereignty 67:1
2. Al-Adha Festival Sacrifice (Adaahi) -
3. Al Hakam - الْحَكَمُ - The Judge
4. Category C and women’s prisons could be upgraded to ease overcrowding
5. Nurses fainting in ‘inhumane’ conditions due to extreme heat, union warns
6. UK politics: Burnham urges retailers to stop selling disposable barbecues after emergency Cobra meeting – as it happened
7. Some Claude users are mad that Anthropic’s new watermarks will catch them using it at their jobs, classes
8. AI nuclear power firm Fermi finally has a new CEO
9. Northrop’s robot space mechanic is a new way to keep satellites at work longer
10. Once-in-a-generation solar eclipse wows millions in UK and Europe
11. Temperatures to soar to 38C as amber extreme heat warning comes into force
12. Putin can no longer claim victory in Ukraine, Nobel Peace Prize winner tells BBC
13. Bitcoin firms ask AI labs for same tools attackers already have
14. Speculation on dogecoin is back to October 2025 levels. The price is down 70%
15. Bitcoin slips near $⁠63,500 as traders look past CPI to Fed’s next tests
16. Three Palestinian families besieged in their homes by Israeli settlers
17. Search efforts in Colombia enter ‘final phase’ as quake toll reaches 265
18. Oman says oil spill from stricken tanker has reached its coast
19. DeepSeek V4 Pro 0813
20. Tailscale Traces Database Corruption to 16y/o SQLite WAL-Reset Bug
21. Delta
22. ‘Hormuz remains blocked’: Iran disputes Trump claims as traffic sinks to near 3-month lows
23. South Korea’s Kospi has staged a stunning comeback. How long will the bull market last?
24. Cerebras stock plunges 14% after second earnings report following IPO
25. How do I get my exam paper remarked? #alevel #exam #bbcnews
26. Leavitt to leave as White House press secretary | AJ #shorts
27. Why tariffs are not the right tool to bolster US production
28. Three Palestinian families besieged in their homes by Israeli settlers | AJ Shorts
29. Zambians vote in election seen as test of economic reforms