Supreme Court upholds SIR exercise as an advancement towards free and fair elections - The Hindu

• PolitiFact announced on August 12, 2026, the launch of its most extensive partnership network to date to fact-check the 2026 midterm elections. • The initiative involves collaborating with premier local newsrooms in battleground states to reach an estimated 40 million people.

• The U.S. transportation Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose in July 2026, outpacing the overall national inflation rate. • This increase was primarily driven by rising costs for gasoline and airfares, signaling significant price pressures within the travel sector.

• The Monsoon Session of Parliament concluded on Thursday with the Lok Sabha being adjourned sine die following a persistent logjam over police action. • Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the Opposition, noting that productivity plummeted to 19% in the Lok Sabha and 39% in the Rajya Sabha.

• A total solar eclipse will occur today, August 12, visible from Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and northeastern Portugal. • A major partial eclipse will be visible across most of Europe, including Luxembourg, as well as parts of North America and northwestern Africa, peaking around 8:15 p.m.

• Millions of tourists, astronomers, and eclipse chasers are flocking to Spain to witness a total solar eclipse, seeking the clearest skies for the two minutes of totality. • While Spain offers the best view, tens of millions more people across western Europe—including the UK, France, Belgium, Switzerland, and northern Italy—will experience a partial blockage of the sun.

• Southeast Asia's 10 economies are facing diverse economic risks and challenges despite their shared geographic proximity. • The region exhibits extreme wealth disparity, with a GDP per capita gap of approximately $98,000 between the wealthiest nation, Singapore, and the poorest, Myanmar.

• David Crowley has won the Democratic primary for governor of Wisconsin, defeating his progressive opponent Francesca Hong. • The victory secures Crowley's position as the Democratic nominee for the state's highest executive office.

• Democrats could reclaim the U.S. House of Representatives majority if they flip just three seats in the upcoming November midterm elections. • This potential shift follows a historical trend where the party controlling the White House typically loses seats during midterms, such as the 40-seat gain Democrats achieved in 2018.

• Rescuers and Colombia's new government are facing significant strain while racing against time to respond to a devastating earthquake. • In a separate legal matter, an unnamed individual is expected to make her initial court appearance in California on Wednesday.

• A series of violent incidents occurred across the U.S., including a police shooting in Glendale, a high school shooting in Georgia that left a student wounded, and the death of a boy at a Las Vegas hospital. • In legal and political developments, a civil rights agency is dropping a subpoena action against Nike regarding its DEI practices, and a judge ruled that Arizona's ESA accountability proposition requires rewriting for the ballot.

• A 14-year-old boy carried out a mass shooting in Thailand, killing his grandparents and then attacking his school, resulting in the deaths of five teachers and several students. • In response to one of the deadliest school shootings in recent years, the Thai government has suspended the issuance of new firearm purchase licenses.

• Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the Congress party for the ongoing parliamentary deadlock, asserting that the government is prepared to debate the NEET controversy. • The Monsoon Session continues to be marked by intense confrontations and protests both inside and outside the House between the government and the Opposition.