Vultures are disappearing fast in many parts of West Africa due to hunting, poisoning, and habitat loss, which threatens their role in stopping diseases. In Awka-Etiti, Nigeria, local people protect vultures because of their traditional beliefs, helping to keep the birds safe in that area.
Key Facts
Vultures are important because they eat dead animals quickly, preventing disease spread.
Many vultures in Africa are dying from poisoning, which causes about 60% of deaths.
Habitat loss from urban growth is reducing places where vultures nest.
Hunting vultures for traditional medicine and spiritual reasons is a main threat.
In Awka-Etiti, a sacred forest and shrine attract vultures and protect them from harm.
Local volunteer Chukwuemeka Igwe is known as the "King of Vulture" for his conservation work.
Without vultures, the risk of diseases like anthrax and rabies increases.
Experts will meet in Abuja later this year to discuss a plan to save vultures in West Africa.
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Nurses in England are fainting and struggling to work in very hot conditions during a record-breaking heatwave. The Royal College of Nursing has called for better cooling systems and safer uniforms as extreme heat affects hospitals and care homes. Local and national officials are addressing immediate problems like wildfires and travel disruptions, while also planning longer-term climate adaptation.
Key Facts
Nurses are collapsing and feeling dizzy or nauseous due to high temperatures at work.
Some hospital wards have temperatures above 30°C without air conditioning.
The Royal College of Nursing is urging urgent improvements like air conditioning and better uniforms.
England is under an amber heat warning with temperatures forecast to reach 36°C or higher.
Three-quarters of England is officially in drought, increasing wildfire risks.
Firefighters continue to fight large wildfires and request more resources for climate challenges.
Government discussions include possible bans on disposable barbecues to reduce fire hazards.
The UK government’s climate adaptation efforts are considered behind schedule by experts.
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Millions of people in the UK and Europe watched a major solar eclipse on Wednesday, the biggest since 1999. In the UK, the Moon covered over 90% of the Sun, while some parts of Europe experienced a full, total eclipse.
Key Facts
The solar eclipse took place on a Wednesday across the UK and Europe.
It was the most significant eclipse visible in the region since 1999.
In the UK, more than 90% of the Sun was blocked by the Moon.
Some areas in Europe saw a rare total eclipse, where the Moon completely covered the Sun.
BBC science correspondent Pallab Ghosh reported experiencing strong emotions during the event in Burgos, Spain.
Millions of people across Europe and the UK watched this natural event.
The eclipse was described as a "once-in-a-generation" spectacle by observers.
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Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has introduced a plan to grant legal status to undocumented immigrants. Recently, many migrants tried to cross into Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa, which has drawn attention to Spain’s immigration policies.
Key Facts
Spain is focusing on immigration issues with a new plan for undocumented migrants.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez supports giving these migrants legal status.
Ceuta, a Spanish area next to Morocco, saw tens of thousands of migrants try to enter illegally last month.
This large migrant crossing has caused debate and scrutiny about Spain’s immigration rules.
The plan and recent events show Spain’s role in the worldwide discussion on migration.
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A strong heat dome is expected to bring very high temperatures across the southern and southeastern United States this weekend. Many cities could tie or break daily temperature records, with heat indexes reaching dangerous levels due to high heat and humidity.
Key Facts
The National Weather Service predicts temperatures in the upper 90s to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of the South and Southeast.
Heat indices (which combine temperature and humidity to show how hot it feels) could reach between 105 and 115 degrees.
Numerous cities, including Fayetteville (NC), Myrtle Beach (SC), and Charleston (SC), are at risk of breaking daily high-temperature records.
Both high maximum temperatures (daytime highs) and record high minimum temperatures (warmest overnight lows) may be broken.
The heat dome effect is expected to last through the weekend, with extreme heat warnings already in place in many areas.
The Southeast and Gulf Coast states face the highest risk due to the combination of heat and humidity.
Some record highs targeted by the heat wave date back many decades, with new records potentially surpassing temperatures measured as far back as 1918.
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President Trump has faced challenges in ending the conflict with Iran. Military airstrikes and strong threats have not changed Iran’s actions, and diplomatic efforts have repeatedly encountered setbacks.
Key Facts
President Trump aims to end the war with Iran.
The U.S. conducted limited airstrikes against Iran, but they did not achieve major results.
President Trump made strong threats against Iran.
These threats did not lead to progress.
Diplomatic talks have shown potential but have been disrupted multiple times.
The situation between the U.S. and Iran remains tense and unresolved.
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Andrew Bird is a musician who plays many types of music, including classical, jazz, folk, and rock. He recently performed with the San Francisco Symphony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his popular album.
Key Facts
Andrew Bird is a violinist and singer.
He plays classical music, jazz standards, folk, and rock songs.
Bird performed with the San Francisco Symphony.
The performance marked the 20th anniversary of his breakout album.
The article is part of an arts and culture series called CANVAS.
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A fast-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed over 2,000 people, making it the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record. The virus has spread to several provinces in Congo and crossed into Uganda, but there are no confirmed cases in the United States, where health experts say the risk remains low.
Key Facts
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
Over 4,400 confirmed cases and more than 2,000 deaths were reported as of August 10.
The outbreak spread across five provinces in Congo: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo.
Uganda reported cases linked to Congo but declared its outbreak over on July 28 after no new cases appeared.
The World Health Organization and other health agencies are increasing efforts like surveillance and contact tracing to control the outbreak.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say the outbreak is spreading much faster than previous Ebola outbreaks.
Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people, not through the air.
The CDC says the chance of Ebola spreading to the U.S. is very low due to strong public health measures and infection control.
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Journalist Sam Roberts has written about 1,600 obituaries during his career at The New York Times. He has a new book called "Are They Dead Yet?" where he talks about how the paper decides who gets an obituary and what he has learned about life through this work.
Key Facts
Sam Roberts is a journalist at The New York Times.
He has written around 1,600 obituaries.
Roberts has written a book titled "Are They Dead Yet?"
The book covers the process of obituary writing.
It explains how The New York Times picks people for obituaries.
Roberts shares lessons about life gained from writing obituaries.
The discussion took place on the PBS podcast "Settle In."
Geoff Bennett hosted the conversation with Roberts.
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Oil is leaking from the grounded tanker Caroline Bezengi off the coast of Oman. The oil spill has spread to mainland beaches and threatens marine habitats and nearby protected areas due to strong winds and currents.
Key Facts
The Caroline Bezengi tanker, carrying nearly 1 million barrels of crude oil, ran aground near Oman’s Qabiliyah Island.
An explosion on the tanker occurred in June; the cause is unknown and no one has claimed responsibility.
Oil from the tanker has reached Oman’s Ras Madrakah beaches, about 200 km north of the tanker’s location.
The spill covers over 600 square kilometers and is spreading fast because of monsoon winds and sea currents.
The tanker is partly submerged and is believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” sanctioned by the UK and EU for transporting Russian oil.
Oman’s Environment Authority is monitoring the situation and warns that the southern coast of Masirah Island may soon be affected.
The vessel left the Russian port of Novorossiysk in May, and its owners are thought to be based in Shanghai.
Oman is a mediator in the ongoing war involving Iran, the US, and Israel.
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A strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, killing over 227 people and injuring thousands. Rescue teams and aid groups are working quickly to find survivors and help displaced people, while the government led by President Abelardo de la Espriella faces challenges in responding to the disaster.
Key Facts
The earthquake hit Colombia’s west on Monday with a magnitude of 7.4.
More than 227 people have died, but the actual death toll may be higher.
About 2,595 people have been injured, and thousands remain missing.
Rescue teams continued searching rubble in cities like Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdo.
The first 48 to 72 hours after a quake are critical for saving trapped survivors.
Many displaced families are staying in shelters or parks due to damaged or unsafe homes.
Colombia has experienced 130 aftershocks since the earthquake.
The disaster worsens existing challenges caused by poverty and civil conflict in some areas.
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A total solar eclipse happened over parts of Europe on Wednesday when the moon moved in front of the sun and blocked its light. People in places like Mallorca, Spain, watched the event and described it as a unique and otherworldly experience.
Key Facts
The eclipse was a total solar eclipse, meaning the moon fully covered the sun.
The event was visible in parts of Europe, including Mallorca, Spain.
The moon passing in front of the sun caused darkness during daytime for a short period.
CBS News weather correspondent Rob Marciano reported from Mallorca during the eclipse.
Witnesses described the experience as feeling like being on another planet.
The eclipse took place on a Wednesday.
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A suspected suspicious device found in a trash bin near a fire station in Washington DC caused a road closure during morning rush hour. The bomb squad investigated and found the item was actually a sex toy.
Key Facts
The incident happened around 7 a.m. near the Tenleytown fire station on Wisconsin Avenue.
A person left a blue-and-black electronic device with exposed wires in a trash bin.
Police closed Wisconsin Avenue and nearby streets for about two hours during the investigation.
The bomb squad and K-9 unit responded to the scene.
The device was identified as an electronic sex toy, specifically a portable pump.
The sex toy is similar to the “Zolo Blowbot,” which costs over $300 and has suction and drying features.
No one was injured, and traffic resumed after the area was cleared.
Similar traffic disruptions from sex toys occurred before, such as a truck accident in Oklahoma in 2022.
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Japan is experiencing very hot summers, leading to many cases of heatstroke. To help people cool down, a new product called the Do Hiemon, or "The Cooling Box," is being sold to businesses and placed in public areas.
Key Facts
Over 53,000 people in Japan have been treated for heatstroke in the last two months.
There have been 79 reported deaths from heatstroke during this time.
The Do Hiemon is a cooling device that people can enter to lower their body temperature.
Each unit costs approximately 1.5 million yen (about $9,400).
The design of the Do Hiemon was inspired by freezer vending machines.
The cooling boxes are being made available in public spaces and to businesses.
The heat in Japan is getting worse, increasing the need for cooling solutions.
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Actors Alan Cumming and Shirley Henderson, who have known each other for about 40 years, are starring together in a stage play called *A History of Paper* at Pitlochry Festival Theatre. The play follows a couple’s life story told through pieces of paper and was originally a radio play turned into a musical.
Key Facts
Alan Cumming and Shirley Henderson first met as young actors on the TV drama *Shadow of the Stone*.
Henderson appeared in the *Harry Potter* and *Bridget Jones* films; Cumming had some acting roles early on.
*A History of Paper* began as a radio play in 2017 and became a musical in 2024 at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The play was written by Oliver Emanuel who passed away in 2023, making the production more emotional.
Cumming is the artistic director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre where the play is currently running until September 12.
They play older versions of themselves, reversing the usual casting by playing their younger selves now as older actors.
Both actors say they share a close bond and a willingness to be open and vulnerable on stage together.
Personal keepsakes like letters from Henderson’s late father and drawings from Cumming’s husband inspire their performances.
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An 18-year-old firefighter named Bobi Jones from Wales balanced studying for his A-levels while helping fight wildfires. Other students in Wales also prepared for their exam results, with many aiming to continue university studies or apprenticeships.
Key Facts
Bobi Jones managed A-levels in business, sport, and the Welsh Baccalaureate alongside firefighting duties.
His school allowed him flexibility to leave class for fire emergencies if he caught up on work later.
Wildfires in Wales have required regular firefighting but were less severe than in some other areas.
Bobi plans to start an electrician apprenticeship and continue on-call firefighter shifts.
About 32.8% of 18-year-olds in Wales had applied to universities by the end of June.
Rosa MacGowan, another student, studied A-levels and worked part-time, aiming to study medicine or pharmacy.
William Hopkins studied BTEC in Uniformed Protective Services and wants to join the Army or Royal Marines.
Students feel a mix of excitement and nervousness about their results and future plans.
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Millions of people in the UK and Europe watched a major solar eclipse, the most impressive in nearly 30 years. While the UK saw a partial eclipse with up to 95% of the Sun covered, parts of Spain, Greenland, and Iceland experienced a full solar eclipse where the Sun was completely hidden by the Moon.
Key Facts
The eclipse occurred on the evening of the event and lasted about an hour in the UK.
Most of the UK saw around 90% of the Sun covered by the Moon; in Cornwall, coverage reached 95%.
Spain, Greenland, and Iceland experienced a total eclipse, meaning the Sun was fully blocked for a brief time.
The path of the total eclipse started in northern Siberia and moved south through the Arctic Ocean, Iceland, and Europe.
The Sun’s corona, a glow of superheated gas, was visible during the total eclipse.
People used solar glasses or homemade viewers like colanders and cereal boxes to safely watch the eclipse.
A total solar eclipse happens somewhere on Earth about every 18 months but is rare for any single location, occurring roughly once every 400 years.
Despite cloudier skies in northern UK regions, crowds gathered at famous landmarks to watch the event.
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A Pentagon report says US military strikes in Yemen killed 153 civilians and injured 243 in 2025, mostly from three attacks in April. These strikes targeted Houthi forces and a fuel port but caused significant civilian harm.
Key Facts
In 2025, US strikes in Yemen killed 153 civilians and wounded 243, according to a Pentagon review.
All civilian casualties were from three strikes in April near Sanaa and the Ras Isa fuel port.
The deadliest strike hit Ras Isa, killing 80 people and injuring 171, causing large fires.
The Pentagon’s report was sent to Congress and shared with the media.
Civilian deaths rose sharply from 2024, when only 2 civilians were reported killed.
US Central Command said the strikes targeted fuel and revenue sources for the Iran-backed Houthis.
The report found it was likely civilians were harmed but said condolence payments were not appropriate.
The US military started strikes against Houthis in 2023 and increased attacks after President Trump’s 2025 inauguration.
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