Morning Digest

Thursday, August 13, 2026

25 stories from 4 sources, 45 more held back.

RT

Fidel Castro at 100: RT documentary on Cuban revolutionary leader

Castro at 100: WATCH the story of Cuba’s revolutionary leader. Fidel Castro, the revolutionary leader who ruled Cuba for nearly five decades, was one of the defining figures of the Cold War, defying successive US administrations and surviving hundreds of reported assassination attempts.

RT 5:27 PM

Defense argues Charlie Kirk murder suspect ineligible for death penalty

The defense team of Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk last September, has argued that the defendant should be spared the death penalty, as he only “hit the intended target. The defense attorneys insist that the prosecution has been unable to prove the alleged shooter put other people’s lives at risk, thus committing aggravated murder.

RT 4:56 PM

Iran can fight US until Trump is gone – IRGC general

Iran can fight on for years to defeat US – senior IRGC commander. Iran can stay in the fight in a prolonged armed conflict with the US, even if it lasts the rest of Donald Trump’s term in office, a senior Iranian general has said.

RT 3:27 PM

US orders Israel to leave southern Lebanon

The US State Department reportedly ordered Israel to stick to its word and pull its troops out of Lebanon after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said his forces were “here to stay” in the south of the country.

RT 2:35 PM

Spain rejects Morocco’s claim to sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla

Spain will not discuss the sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla with Morocco, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles has said after Rabat publicly renewed its claim to the North African enclaves. The exchange comes nearly two weeks after tens of thousands of people crossed the border of Ceuta in an unprecedented influx that overwhelmed the city.

RT 2:22 PM

German lawmakers criticize proposed BfV reform

German opposition slams spy agency ‘revolution’. A sweeping overhaul of Germany’s intelligence services proposed by the government could infringe on police powers in violation of constitutional safeguards, opposition politicians have warned.

RT 1:41 PM

First Indian cargo ship will sail through Arctic route next year – official

India is planning to send its first cargo ship on the Arctic route running along Russia’s northern coast next year, as it seeks to deepen trade with Moscow outside of Western sanctions and without disruptions via the Suez Canal. The 5,600 km Arctic route, or Northern Sea Route (NSR), runs off Russia’s Arctic coastline and is the shortest shipping route between East Asia and Europe.

RT 1:15 PM

Medvedev threatens Japan with ‘monstrous consequences’ over Kuril Islands claim

The Kuril Islands will forever remain Russian land, with Japan looking for trouble by continuing to stick to its claim over the archipelago, former Russian President Dmitry Medvdev has said. The Kuril archipelago came under Soviet control at the end of World War II following Japan’s defeat and was subsequently incorporated into the USSR.

RT 11:49 AM

Rescued lions from Israel find new home at South African sanctuary

Two adolescent lions who were rescued from the illegal wildlife trade in Israel have been relocated to the Animal Defenders International (ADI) Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa’s Free State province. The lions, BenTzur and Ori, had been stranded for months due to the conflict in the Middle East, with most flights grounded.

RT 11:46 AM

Raw America

Revealed: Trump Already Pocketed $2.2 Billion in ‘Most Openly Corrupt’ Presidency

Senate Republicans are loudly warning Trump that voters are exhausted with his endless war in Iran as gas prices become a real problem for the GOP heading into the midterms. CNN employees are pushing back on MAGA billionaire David Ellison’s plan for an “independent” editorial board, calling it a toothless PR move.

Raw America 3:52 PM

Breaking: ICE Quietly Equipping Agents with Terrifying New Weapons

Trump’s company is selling paying customers early access to his official posts. Now, a new lawsuit claims that’s unconstitutional. Sailors on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln have reportedly tried to jump overboard as Trump’s Iran war drags on with no end in sight.

Raw America 10:34 PM

ESPN

Moro Ojomo, Fred Johnson scuffle at Eagles camp

The dust-up started during team drills Thursday when Ojomo took exception to a late shove by Johnson and squared up, looking ready to fight. The coaches decided to keep both players in for the next play. Tempers flared as Johnson blocked Ojomo to the ground and then landed on him with his full weight.

ESPN 1:31 PM

49ers' Ricky Pearsall has knee surgery, targets 9-month recovery

Hours after the procedure to repair the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, Pearsall took to Instagram to post a series of photos of him surrounded by family and Bible verses along with a message about what's to come. "Now it's time," Pearsall wrote. "Time to completely shift my mind.

ESPN 11:43 AM

Lakers sold at $12.5 billion valuation: NBA execs, agents react

FIVE GAMES INTO last season, ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers franchise changed hands for the first time in nearly five decades. On Oct. 30, 2025, the NBA's board of governors approved the sale of the Buss family's controlling stake in the team at a record $10 billion valuation to businessman and Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter.

ESPN 11:32 AM

Dodgers' Freeman appears to avoid injury after fall into dugout

LOS ANGELES -- Freddie Freeman apparently avoided serious injury Wednesday night when the Los Angeles Dodgers' first baseman took a frightening tumble down the stairs and into the visitors dugout while trying to catch a foul popup in the eighth inning.

ESPN 9:26 AM

Joe Montana Super Bowl XXIV jersey fetches record price

On Thursday, the high-end alternative asset and collectibles venture Treasure Trove announced it had acquired a game-worn Joe Montana Super Bowl XXIV jersey for $1,515,000 -- a record price in the NFL's most important collectibles space. The jersey worn by Tom Brady in his final game had held the previous record since it was sold in November 2023 with a $1.39 million price tag.

ESPN 9:16 AM

2026 Big Ten college football preview, predictions, top transfers

Congratulations in advance to Oregon. If the Big Ten is to continue its recent streak of a different national champion for each season -- Michigan in 2023, Ohio State in 2024, Indiana in 2025 -- Dan Lanning's Ducks are the most likely beneficiary. This is certainly a heck of a streak, perpetrated by three different coaches and capping three very different cycles.

ESPN 9:13 AM

ESPN's 2026 preseason college football All-America team

Set aside, if you can, the endless stream of court cases, rule changes and legislative bills that defined the first nine months of 2026. Because in a few weeks' time, college football will be back. Indeed, the 2026 season is nearly here.

ESPN 8:21 AM

Final preseason college football SP+ rankings, takeaways for 2026

You're here for the sweet, sweet computer rankings, and I understand, but we're going to start with a quick aside: I first need to defend the concept of preseason numbers. SMU Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee is one of the brightest in the business.

ESPN 8:21 AM

New Orleans Pelicans offseason recap, early 2026-27 season preview

It was a quiet offseason for the New Orleans Pelicans following a 26-56 record in 2025-26. The team did make a coaching change, hiring former Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley in May, but made little difference-making transactions to a squad that has won fewer than 30 games for two consecutive seasons.

ESPN 8:10 AM

The Rundown AI

Grok 4.6 storms the AI frontier

Calling Grok a frontier model might have sounded ridiculous a year ago, but SpaceXAI’s latest model is paving a trajectory that likely doesn’t have rivals laughing anymore.

The Rundown AI 12:00 AM