The University of Michigan will use a pass-or-fail grading system for first-semester students in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts. The change aims to reduce student stress and help new students adjust to college by focusing less on competition and more on learning.
Key Facts
First-semester students at the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science and the Arts will receive pass or no credit instead of letter grades.
The goal is to support students’ mental health and encourage motivation driven by personal interest.
A recent study of 135 US colleges found depression and suicidal thoughts among students decreased from 2022 to 2024.
Other universities such as Caltech, Swarthmore, Wellesley, and MIT have similar grading options for new students.
Harvard recently introduced a limit on A grades to address grade inflation and maintain academic standards.
Some professors at the University of California have called for reintroducing college entrance exams due to poor student preparation in math and science.
The University of California San Diego reported a rise in students needing remedial math before taking precalculus.
Critics question whether changing grading early in college improves overall academic standards.
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The number of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz decreased from about 11 per day to 6 over the weekend. This decline happened as talks between the United States and Iran about reopening the strait continued without resolution.
Key Facts
The Strait of Hormuz usually sees around 11 vessels passing through each day.
Over the recent weekend, only 6 vessels passed through daily.
From Friday to Sunday, a total of 32 ships passed the strait.
Of these 32 ships, 17 used a specific passage (details not fully provided).
The drop in traffic is linked to ongoing talks between the United States and Iran.
The talks are focused on reopening or securing the strait for shipping.
The information comes from Kpler, a trade intelligence company.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping route for global trade, especially oil transport.
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A lifeguard in Maine was pulled underwater by a shark but managed to escape without injury. Shark sightings near popular East Coast beaches have increased recently, with more sharks appearing closer to shore than usual.
Key Facts
The incident happened off Scarborough Beach, Maine.
Lifeguard Greg Wilfert was pulled about 5 feet underwater by a shark before escaping.
Officials report a rise in shark sightings along the East Coast near beaches.
Normally, only a few sharks are seen, but recently there have been many more than usual.
Experts link this increase to successful marine life conservation efforts.
OCEARCH, a nonprofit group, studies sharks by tagging and tracking them.
Shark attacks are still rare; there were 25 unprovoked bites worldwide last year.
Experts advise beachgoers to be aware of their surroundings when more marine life is present.
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The United Nations estimates that over 16,000 civilians detained by Russia during the war in Ukraine are still being held. Many have experienced torture, ill-treatment, and poor conditions, and the UN has not been allowed to inspect detention facilities in Russia.
Key Facts
More than 16,000 civilians are still detained by Russia in connection with the Ukraine war.
The UN reports widespread torture, including sexual violence, against both Ukrainian civilian detainees and prisoners of war.
Over 95% of released Ukrainian prisoners of war and 85% of released civilian detainees said they were tortured or mistreated.
Conditions in detention include food shortages and lack of medical care.
The UN documented 129 executions and 48 deaths of Ukrainian prisoners of war due to torture or poor conditions.
The UN has not been granted access to Russian detention centers.
Survivors shared testimony at a UN Security Council meeting, highlighting their suffering and attempts at forced confessions.
The UN official speaking was Claudia Fuentes Julio, assistant secretary-general for human rights.
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Canadian police charged a man for making a bomb threat near the U.S. Consulate in Halifax. This threat follows two separate shootings earlier this year at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto.
Key Facts
A 54-year-old man named Ali Assakereh was charged with making bomb threats and public mischief.
Police found a vehicle linked to Assakereh near the Halifax U.S. Consulate containing a propane tank and flammable liquids.
Streets in downtown Halifax were evacuated as a safety precaution but the threat was later deemed not dangerous.
The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa declined to comment on the investigation while it was ongoing.
Earlier in 2024, two shootings occurred at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto, causing building damage but no injuries.
The Toronto shootings involved multiple shots in March and a single shot fired in July.
Police arrested two young suspects in the July shooting and are investigating possible connections to a gun-for-hire network.
Authorities have not found any link between the Halifax bomb threat and the Toronto shootings.
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About 2.4 million Afghan girls are not allowed to attend secondary school, five years after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. The United Nations says this ban is a serious violation of girls’ rights and calls for the rule to end immediately.
Key Facts
The Taliban took power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021.
After their takeover, girls were banned from secondary schools and later from universities and jobs.
Afghanistan is the only country where girls are officially banned from secondary and higher education.
Before the Taliban ban, nearly 1 million girls were attending secondary schools in Afghanistan by 2021.
The ban stops girls from continuing an entire cycle of secondary education, which lasts about five years.
UNESCO supports education with community programs that teach literacy and skills, often in homes, with permission from local authorities.
The UN and other groups have repeatedly asked the Taliban to restore girls’ right to education, but the ban remains.
UNESCO says education is a basic human right and urges the immediate restoration of girls’ access to school.
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Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, is holding "Elvis Week" from August 8 to August 16. The event marks 49 years since the death of Elvis Presley, the famous rockstar.
Key Facts
"Elvis Week" takes place at Graceland, Elvis Presley's home.
The event runs for nine days, starting on August 8 and ending on August 16.
The week honors Elvis Presley, a well-known rock and roll musician.
This year marks the 49th anniversary of Elvis's death.
Alicia Dean, who works in marketing for Elvis Presley Enterprises, is involved in the event.
The celebration includes various activities to remember Elvis and his impact on music.
Graceland is located in Memphis, Tennessee.
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Lucy Davis, the actress known for playing Dawn in the UK TV show The Office, announced she has stage 4 breast cancer that has spread to her bones. She described the cancer as incurable and shared that she wants to live the rest of her life as joyfully as possible while continuing her work and advocacy.
Key Facts
Lucy Davis is 53 years old and was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer about 18 months ago.
The cancer has spread (metastasized) to her spine, right hip, and ribs.
She said the cancer cannot be cured and chemo treatment is not an option anymore.
Davis is best known for her role as Dawn Tinsley on the UK version of The Office from 2001 to 2003.
She has also acted in other shows and films, including Wonder Woman and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
She shared her diagnosis on Instagram along with a video of herself in the hospital.
Davis remains positive, saying she is at peace and wants to keep working and advocating for animal rights.
She encouraged others to get any unusual body changes checked by a doctor early.
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People in the UK will see a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday, their most important since 1999. Because special eclipse glasses are hard to find, experts suggest three safe ways to watch the eclipse without glasses, using everyday household items.
Key Facts
The UK will experience a partial solar eclipse, while parts of Spain, Greenland, and Iceland will see a total eclipse.
Experts warn against looking directly at the Sun without proper solar glasses because it can seriously harm your eyes.
Sunglasses or dark goggles are not safe substitutes for eclipse glasses.
A pinhole projector can be made by poking a small hole in a piece of card and projecting the Sun’s image onto paper.
A kitchen colander can create many small images of the eclipsed Sun on a surface, simulating the eclipse safely.
An empty cereal box with a pinhole covered in foil can be used as a viewer to see the eclipse safely on a screen inside the box.
NASA advises against using mobile phones to photograph the eclipse without special solar filters because it can damage phone sensors.
The methods described allow people to watch the eclipse safely without buying eclipse glasses.
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Toby Smithson, a diabetes specialist, explains which breakfast habits can make blood sugar control harder and which foods help keep energy steady. She advises eating a breakfast that combines fiber-rich carbs with lean protein and healthy fats instead of skipping meals or eating sugary drinks.
Key Facts
Skipping breakfast can cause blood sugar to become harder to manage and increase hunger later.
Balanced breakfasts with fiber, protein, and healthy fats help maintain steady energy and fullness.
Avoid meals high in refined carbs but low in protein or fiber to prevent rapid blood sugar changes.
Completely avoiding carbohydrates is not recommended; choose high-fiber carbs like fruit, beans, and whole grains.
Protein sources such as eggs, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, and tofu help extend fullness.
Some specialty coffee drinks have a lot of sugar and calories, which can raise blood sugar.
A good breakfast example is eggs with whole-grain toast and vegetables or cottage cheese with fruit.
Medical tourism is changing from being mainly about low prices to focusing on fast, well-coordinated care and trust in the healthcare system. Patients now research doctors and hospitals deeply, share medical information before travel, and expect quick specialist opinions and ongoing support after treatment.
Key Facts
International hospitals now compete by how fast and well they diagnose and support patients, not just price.
Patients often share medical records and consult specialists before arriving at the hospital.
Digital tools allow medical information to be sent quickly across countries for remote specialist review.
Many international healthcare programs give a specialist opinion within about four hours of receiving records.
The average time from first inquiry to treatment has dropped to roughly one month.
Patients focus on surgeons' experience, hospital team credentials, complication handling, and follow-up care.
Successful treatment depends on many factors beyond surgery, including intensive care and rehabilitation.
Hospitals that manage complications well and offer coordinated care and international follow-up are more trusted by medical travelers.
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A new study analyzed extreme heat by looking at hourly temperatures rather than daily highs and lows. It found that people are experiencing more hot hours each summer, and this is expected to increase significantly as the planet warms due to greenhouse gas emissions.
Key Facts
The study compared temperatures hour-by-hour, defining extreme heat as temperatures above the 90th percentile for that hour between 1981 and 2010.
On average, people experienced about 270 hours of extreme heat each summer over the past 40 years.
The number of extreme heat hours is increasing by 62 hours every decade.
Future climate models predict the number of hot hours could triple by the late 21st century with medium emissions and increase 4.5 times with high emissions.
For every 0.5°C (about 1°F) rise in global temperature, extreme hot hours increase by roughly 200 per summer.
The tropics are expected to see the largest increase in hot hours due to more variable temperatures.
Nighttime hot hours are increasing faster than daytime hot hours, leading to less relief from the heat.
People born in 2023 will experience about 1.4 to 1.8 times more hot hours in their lifetime compared to those born in 1981, especially in low-income countries.
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Turkey’s parliament approved a law offering a conditional pardon to thousands of Kurdish militants from the PKK, aiming to advance peace after the group agreed to lay down weapons. The law will take effect once authorities confirm the militants have fully disarmed, and it suspends some prison sentences and investigations for certain PKK members.
Key Facts
The Turkish parliament voted mostly in favor of a law pardoning thousands of PKK Kurdish militants.
The law aims to promote peace between Turkey and the PKK, which ended a long conflict by announcing disarmament last year.
The law will only apply after officials confirm the PKK has completely laid down its weapons.
It suspends some prison sentences and delays investigations against PKK members for 5 to 10 years; cases drop if no crimes occur during that time.
Thousands of militants, including some abroad, may benefit from the law, but those convicted of murder or sentenced to life before 2005 are excluded.
Residents in the Kurdish region showed hope for peace and economic improvement but remain uncertain about broader Kurdish rights being addressed.
The PKK shifted its goals from creating an independent Kurdish state to seeking more rights and autonomy within Turkey.
Kurdish people make up roughly 15–20% of Turkey’s population.
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Taylor Swift, Lyle Lovett, and several other songwriters will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame this year. The Hall of Fame honors songwriters who have made important contributions to music, especially in country and contemporary styles.
Key Facts
Taylor Swift will be inducted in the contemporary songwriter/artist category.
Lyle Lovett will be inducted in the veteran songwriter/artist category.
Other inductees include Shawn Camp, Lee Thomas Miller, and Bruce Channel.
Taylor Swift has won 14 Grammy Awards and writes many of her own hits.
Lyle Lovett is known for his clever lyrics and country-Americana songs.
Shawn Camp and Lee Thomas Miller are recognized for their successful songwriting careers.
Bruce Channel is famous for the 1959 song “Hey! Baby!” which appeared in the movie “Dirty Dancing.”
The induction will happen at the 56th Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala later this year.
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Forecasters are watching four areas in the Atlantic and Pacific where tropical storms might form this week. One system near Hawaii has the highest chance to develop into a storm, while others in the Atlantic are less likely or expected to move away from land.
Key Facts
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is tracking two possible storms in the Atlantic and two in the Pacific.
The Pacific has more activity this year, with seven named storms already forming, including a major hurricane.
El Niño, a weather pattern, is causing fewer storms in the Atlantic but more in the Pacific.
One Atlantic system near Bermuda has only a 10% chance to develop and will move away from the U.S.
Another Atlantic system southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands has a 70% chance to form in the next week and is moving toward the Antilles.
The disturbance near Hawaii in the Central Pacific has the highest chance of becoming a tropical storm.
No watches or warnings have been issued yet for any of these systems.
The next Atlantic storm, if formed, would be named Cristobal.
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A Syrian court sentenced President Bashar al-Assad to death in his absence. The court found him guilty of crimes committed during Syria's nearly 14-year civil war.
Key Facts
The sentence was given on August 11, 2026.
The trial was held in absentia, meaning Assad was not present.
The court accused Assad of committing atrocities during the civil war.
Syria's civil war has lasted almost 14 years.
This court ruling is part of ongoing legal actions against Assad.
The article was reported by France 24.
No details on how or when the sentence might be enforced were given.
The court is within Syria.
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The article discusses how the Lindsay Clancy trial is being judged by two groups: the official courtroom jury and millions of TikTok users who review and form opinions on the case through short video clips. TikTok allows people to see selective pieces of evidence, theories, and commentary, leading to real-time judgments that may differ from the formal court outcome.
Key Facts
The Lindsay Clancy trial involves accusations that she killed her three children.
The official jury listens to full evidence, witnesses, and follows court rules before deciding.
Millions of people on TikTok watch and analyze short clips about the case, forming their own opinions.
TikTok users get pieces of information quickly and in fragments rather than the full context.
This method of social media judging differs from the courtroom and may produce different conclusions.
Similar social media interest occurred in the 2022 Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial, but that trial was livestreamed in full.
The Clancy case shows how TikTok users act like investigators by piecing together evidence from videos selected by an algorithm.
Social media has changed how public opinion about legal cases is formed, creating a "TikTok jury."
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Heavy rains and tropical storms caused flooding and landslides in the northern Philippines, especially on the main island of Luzon. At least 16 people died, and workers collected large amounts of rubbish from a river in Manila, where the floods washed waste downstream.
Key Facts
The rain lasted nine days and was as much as a whole month’s usual rainfall in some places.
The storms led to flooding in Manila, the capital city.
Schools and government offices were closed because of the heavy rain and flooding.
At least 16 people died from floods, landslides, and related accidents.
Workers collected garbage from a river filled with rubbish caused by the storms.
The events mainly affected Luzon, the Philippines’ main island.
The floods and storms were intensified by tropical weather patterns.
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France is experiencing a severe drought combined with a heatwave that has caused water restrictions over most of the country. The lack of water and dry vegetation have led to a sharp drop in milk production, threatening the quality of dairy products like cheese.
Key Facts
Nearly 70% of France is under water restrictions due to drought.
A record drought is ongoing along with another heatwave hitting the country.
Agriculture, especially dairy farming, is heavily affected by these conditions.
Extreme heat has dried up plant life that cows eat, reducing milk output.
The lower milk production could impact the quality and availability of French cheese.
The situation is part of a broader climate crisis affecting farmers economically and psychologically.
Related issues like early wine harvests and wildfire damage are also happening in France.
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Robert Gilman, a former U.S. Marine, was released from detention in Russia. He had been serving a prison sentence for assaulting a Russian police officer in 2022 and was freed on humanitarian grounds due to concerns about his health.
Key Facts
Robert Gilman is a former U.S. Marine and a U.S. citizen.
He was detained in Russia and sentenced for assaulting a Russian police officer in 2022.
Gilman was released from detention recently.
His release was granted on humanitarian grounds.
Concerns about Gilman’s health were a reason for his release.
The U.S. State Department confirmed his release.
The situation is ongoing and may have further updates.
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