Getting ready for solar eclipse

Sky watchers across Europe and the Americas prepare for a rare total solar eclipse, while rescue teams in Cali, Colombia, navigate the aftermath of a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that has prompted a state of emergency. In Syria, a landmark verdict has sentenced ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad to death for war crimes committed during the civil war. Meanwhile, legal tensions persist between Donald Trump and the BBC over a documentary lawsuit, and security concerns surround the President’s recent travel protocols. Beyond hard news, shifting post-pandemic work habits are driving efforts to convert empty office districts into residential housing. Cultural shifts are also evident, with the winter sport of curling gaining popularity in sunny Rome and Hallmark’s formulaic holiday movies maintaining a loyal audience through their promise of emotional comfort and predictable, happy endings.