Uzbeks killed in Ukrainian attack and a terrible earthquake in Colombia - daily digest

Uzbeks killed in Ukrainian attack, terrible earthquake in Colombia and other important news - daily digest

**Uzbeks killed in Ukrainian attack**

At least 13 people were killed and 39 were injured in a drone attack on the Russian city of Nizhnekamsk on August 10. It was reported that 8 Uzbek citizens were among the victims. This incident was one of the most deadly incidents among civilians in Russia in recent months.

The Ukrainian military confirmed that it had struck an oil refinery in Tatarstan and that a fire had broken out at the facility.

Russian investigators have classified the incident as a terrorist attack and have opened a criminal case. According to reports, a child was among the civilians killed in the strikes on residential areas in Ukraine.

The Uzbek consulate in Kazan initially confirmed that seven Uzbek citizens were among the dead in Nizhnekamsk. Another Uzbek citizen later died from his injuries.

Uzbek officials said the dead were construction workers. Several other citizens were also injured and hospitalized.

A Tajik citizen was also killed in the attack. According to local media, nine of the 13 victims were in their dormitories when the attack occurred.

**Earthquake in Colombia**

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia early Monday, one of the strongest in recent years. The quake killed at least 132 people and a state of emergency was declared across the country. The death toll is expected to rise as many people are trapped under collapsed buildings.

Most of the deaths were in the city of Pereira, in Colombia's coffee-growing region, officials said. Other nearby towns were also badly damaged. More than 480 people were injured in the quakes.

Local authorities reported that 65 buildings had collapsed in the city, with 15 believed to be buried. Thirty-two buildings collapsed in Cali, about 200 km (125 miles) from the epicentre.

Several regional airports were damaged. Buildings in the capital Bogota cracked, but there were no immediate reports of major damage to the city's infrastructure. The tremors were also felt as far away as neighbouring Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama.

The quake came almost two months after earthquakes that devastated northern Venezuela and killed more than 6,300 people.

**Trump demands compensation from Iran**

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran should pay compensation for those killed in wars, attacks and protests.

"We're asking for money for the damage they've done over the past 50 years. So if there's any compensation that needs to be paid, I think Iran should pay for it," Trump said. He said the payments would cover deaths of peaceful protesters and US troops in the region.

Trump's previously unspoken offer was in response to Tehran's demands for compensation and sanctions relief. But Iran's demands are not out of the blue, but are in line with the terms of a peace deal signed in June that later collapsed.

The rhetorical escalation is expected to complicate efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump has repeatedly shifted his stance since the war began in February.

Referring to the protests in late 2025, Trump said Iran killed about 52,000 protesters at the time. But US-based human rights groups have put the death toll in the February unrest at about 7,000, including 6,500 protesters.

Trump, who began the war in February, has also called on protesters to overthrow the Iranian government.

**Amnesty for Kurdish militants in Turkey**

The Turkish parliament has approved a law granting limited and conditional amnesty to Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants. The law makes no mention of the fate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) founder Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned for 27 years.

The document provides a mechanism for Kurdish militants to return to peaceful life in Turkey. Accordingly, criminal prosecution and execution of sentences for a number of crimes will be suspended for a period of 5 to 10 years. If no new crimes are committed during this period, the sentences will be considered served. Serious crimes such as murder will be excluded from this amnesty.

According to Turkish lawmakers, about 3,500 Kurdistan Workers' Party supporters held in Turkish prisons could be released in the first phase.

These provisions can only be applied after it is confirmed that the party and its affiliated forces have been disbanded, as well as that they have handed over their weapons.

The Turkish presidential administration welcomed the law as an "important signal" in support of a "terrorism-free Turkey". The administration stressed that the document should "strengthen the unity and integrity of the country".

Meanwhile, the Kurds say that many provisions of the law will not have the desired effect unless Abdullah Ocalan is released.

**Syria-Russia Agreement**

After 18 months of intense negotiations, a memorandum of understanding was reached between Syria and Russia on August 9 regarding the Russian bases in Tartus and Hmeimim.

According to the Syrian Foreign Ministry, Damascus will take over the management of civilian facilities, including Hmeimim airport and the commercial pier in the port of Tartus. This will allow them to be gradually integrated into the Syrian civil administration.

The military facilities will also be re-purposed as joint training and development centers, under new agreements that protect the interests of both sides.

The Russian naval facility in Tartus and the Hmeimim air base have long been Moscow's main military stronghold in the Middle East.

The future of the bases has been the subject of negotiations with Syria's new leadership since the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

**US revokes 175,000 visas**

The US State Department said it had revoked more than 175,000 visas from foreign nationals under President Donald Trump. The department said in a statement that the visa revocations were aimed at foreigners who "committed crimes, incited violence against US citizens, defrauded Americans, abused the system, or posed a threat to national security."

Most of the visas were revoked after "conflicts" with law enforcement officials. Officials also provided details of several specific crimes.

In January, the department said it had revoked more than 100,000 visas, a record at the time.

The scope of the visa revocations reflects a broader immigration crackdown that aims to deport even those with legal visas. The administration has also adopted a stricter visa policy, expanding its scrutiny and surveillance of social media.

Human rights experts have condemned the Trump administration’s efforts to monitor social media. They say they threaten free speech and amount to surveillance and singling out immigrants.