A search is ongoing for people who might have been on a yacht found drifting near a French island. The yacht was spotted by a passenger on a ferry traveling between Britain and Spain.
Key Facts
The yacht was found drifting off the coast of a French island.
A passenger on a Brittany Ferries ship reported seeing the yacht.
The ferry was traveling from Portsmouth, Britain, to Bilbao, Spain.
Authorities started search operations on Monday evening.
It is unclear if anyone was on board the yacht.
The incident is being treated as a possible distress situation.
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A Palestinian American named Loui Ridi returned to his hometown in the West Bank village of Qusra. He confronted Israeli settlers who have surrounded Palestinian homes there, despite the presence of the Israeli army.
Key Facts
Israeli settlers have surrounded Palestinian homes in Qusra for more than a week.
The Israeli military is deployed in the area but has not stopped the siege.
Loui Ridi, a Palestinian American, came back to Qusra to protect his property.
He confronted militants on his land during the ongoing tensions.
The situation reflects broader conflicts in the West Bank involving settlers and Palestinian residents.
This event is part of ongoing disputes related to Israeli settlements and Palestinian territories.
The conflict continues amid wider regional tensions involving Israel, Palestinians, and other political actors.
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President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman after the country discussed a plan with Iran to control shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy supplies. Oman is a longtime U.S. ally and diplomatic partner with Iran, making the threat unusual and potentially harmful to U.S. relations in the region.
Key Facts
President Trump threatened military action against Oman on Fox News.
Oman has been a stable U.S. ally and a diplomatic link to Iran for decades.
Oman is discussing a plan with Iran to regulate traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas shipping.
The plan might involve fees on ships passing through the strait.
Similar attempts to control shipping at strategic points could disrupt global trade.
U.S. threats against Oman risk damaging a key diplomatic relationship.
Experts say harsh rhetoric can weaken U.S. credibility and strategic power.
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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung talked about the strong alliance between South Korea and the United States after President Donald Trump decided to cut down on joint military exercises. Lee said that national security will continue to improve despite the reduced drills.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump ordered a big reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea.
South Korea and the U.S. have had an alliance for more than 70 years.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung emphasized the importance of this alliance.
The announcement came during a South Korean Cabinet meeting.
President Lee said that national security will still get stronger even with fewer joint exercises.
The military exercises between the two countries help maintain readiness and deterrence.
The reduction is part of President Trump’s strategy, announced over the weekend.
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Sophie Adenot became the first French woman to perform a spacewalk outside the International Space Station on August 18, 2026. She completed the spacewalk alongside American astronaut Anil Menon.
Key Facts
Sophie Adenot is the first French female astronaut to walk in space.
The spacewalk took place on August 18, 2026.
Adenot conducted the spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS).
She was accompanied by Anil Menon, an American astronaut.
This event marks a milestone for France in human space exploration.
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A U.S. businessman named Mike Scarborough heard a hissing sound from his truck wheel while in South Africa. When he looked closer, he found a large monitor lizard inside the wheel well, which was later safely removed.
Key Facts
Mike Scarborough thought his truck had a flat tire because of a hissing noise.
The noise was actually from a large monitor lizard hiding in the truck’s wheel well.
The lizard climbed into the truck while it was parked in the South African bush.
South Africa has two kinds of monitor lizards: the Nile monitor and the rock monitor.
These lizards are big but not venomous and usually only bite if provoked.
A herpetologist explained that monitor lizards are often mistaken for crocodiles because of their size.
Studies show Nile monitors often live near people without causing attacks.
Scarborough and helpers removed the lizard by pulling it out by the tail.
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Scientists have discovered that the narwhal’s spiral tusk has a second internal spiral twisting in the opposite direction to the usual outer spiral. The tusk, which is actually a long canine tooth of male narwhals, has a complex internal structure that may help explain its unique shape and possible functions.
Key Facts
Narwhal tusks are long, spiral canine teeth found mostly in male narwhals.
The tusk typically twists in a left-handed spiral on the outside, but inside, there is a second spiral twisting the other way.
The tusk grows to lengths between about 5 feet and nearly 10 feet.
Female narwhals usually do not develop tusks or have much smaller ones with fewer spirals.
The tusk may serve as a social status symbol driven by sexual selection.
Scientists have used advanced X-ray and imaging techniques from facilities in Sweden, Switzerland, and France to study the tusk’s internal 3D structure.
Narwhals might use their tusks to stun small fish, and the tusk contains many nerve endings possibly used to sense the environment.
The tusk is made of dentine and cementum, with a tightly organized microscopic structure of mineralized collagen fibers.
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Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) advisory committee recommends funding the drug triptorelin to treat breast cancer, endometriosis, and gender dysphoria. This follows AstraZeneca’s decision to stop selling a similar drug, Zoladex, and aims to ensure patients have access to hormone-blocking treatments.
Key Facts
AstraZeneca will remove the drug Zoladex from the market, affecting over 7,500 women with breast cancer.
The PBS committee suggests funding triptorelin, already used for prostate cancer, for broader uses without restrictions.
Both drugs block hormones like oestrogen and testosterone, which are important in treating cancer, endometriosis, and gender dysphoria.
Funding triptorelin would make gender-affirming care for transgender children federally supported for the first time in Australia.
Some states, like Queensland and the Northern Territory, have banned or restricted gender-affirming hormone treatments for children.
The listing may reduce costs from about $3,000 a year to $300 a year for private patients.
Medical experts and advocacy groups support the recommendation as it improves access to essential treatments.
More research is needed to confirm how well triptorelin works compared to Zoladex, especially for treating pain related to endometriosis.
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Six Thai workers were injured by an explosion of old explosives in northern Israel, near the Lebanon border. Two of the workers are seriously hurt and had surgery, and the Thai Embassy is helping with their care and compensation.
Key Facts
The explosion came from unexploded old munitions in an orchard near Metula, northern Israel.
Six Thai migrant workers were injured; two are seriously hurt and had surgery.
More than 40,000 Thai workers live and work in Israel, mainly in farming.
Many Thai workers go abroad because jobs are scarce in their rural home areas.
The injured workers were taken to Ziv Medical Center in Safed; the Thai Ambassador visited them.
The embassy is coordinating medical care and compensation for the workers.
In October 2023, 31 Thai workers were taken hostage in a Hamas attack in southern Israel; most were returned safely.
Many Thai workers left Israel after that attack but some have returned since then.
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President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman because he is unhappy with Oman’s deal with Iran to manage ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The deal involves joint control of a key waterway for global oil and gas supplies. Iran responded by saying the strait will stay closed until the U.S. meets its demands.
Key Facts
President Trump expressed anger over Oman and Iran’s plan to jointly manage shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is an important passage for global oil and natural gas shipments.
The U.S. opposes parts of the agreement, especially Iran and Oman jointly controlling the strait exit.
The U.S. believes Oman has not been firm enough with Iran during negotiations.
Trump suggested the U.S. could declare the strait as American territory.
Iran called Trump’s claim about the strait being U.S. territory a “delusion.”
A projectile hit a ship leaving the strait recently, and Iran said the waterway would stay closed until the U.S. lifts sanctions and meets its other conditions.
Trump previously threatened Oman in May over its dealings with Iran.
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The United States and South Korea have held joint military drills for many years to prepare for possible conflicts with North Korea. This year, President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to significantly reduce the size of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, citing a good relationship with North Korea and South Korea’s refusal to join a U.S. war against Iran. Experts say cutting the drills may weaken the U.S.-South Korea alliance and reduce military readiness.
Key Facts
Ulchi Freedom Shield is an annual joint U.S.-South Korea military exercise focused on defense against threats from North Korea.
The exercise usually includes computer-simulated command training plus field training with thousands of soldiers.
This year’s exercise was planned with about 18,000 South Korean troops and lessons from recent conflicts.
President Trump ordered a major cut to the exercise just before it was to begin.
Trump cited improving relations with North Korea and South Korea not joining a U.S. conflict against Iran as reasons.
North Korea criticizes these drills, seeing them as hostile acts, and threatens responses.
The U.S. and South Korea say the exercises are purely defensive.
Military experts warn that scaling back the drills could lessen the readiness and strength of the alliance formed since the Korean War.
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Russia warned the United Kingdom that it could face consequences for sending drones to Ukraine, which have been used in attacks inside Russia. The UK government says it will continue supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s war.
Key Facts
Russia’s embassy in London said the UK’s drone support to Ukraine will have consequences.
Russia accuses the UK of helping Ukraine escalate the conflict and calls the UK an accomplice.
A former Russian diplomat said Russia might consider attacking the UK, expecting little NATO response.
Ukraine has launched hundreds of drones targeting Russian territory, some made by British companies.
The UK Ministry of Defence has not confirmed its drones were used in the attacks.
Moscow’s mayor reported 637 drones targeted Moscow recently, with 197 shot down.
The UK announced large drone supply packages to Ukraine, including long-range strike and reconnaissance drones.
The UK also provides Ukraine with battle tanks, cruise missiles, and air-defense missiles.
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Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian from Tufts University explains that ultra-processed foods are a major cause of illness and death in the United States. He describes what ultra-processed foods are, how they affect health, and how people can identify them.
Key Facts
Ultra-processed foods are foods that have many added ingredients and artificial substances.
These foods are linked to diseases and health problems in the U.S. population.
Dr. Mozaffarian is the director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University.
He says ultra-processed foods contribute significantly to disease, disability, and death.
The discussion includes tips on how to recognize ultra-processed foods in daily diets.
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The nominees for three categories at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), including the artist of the year, have been announced. CBS Mornings shared the list of nominees.
Key Facts
The announcement was made on CBS Mornings.
Three VMA categories have nominees revealed.
One of the categories is artist of the year.
The VMAs are an annual music award show.
The nominees represent some of the top performers in music this year.
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The U.S. Ambassador to Turkey criticized Israel for airstrikes on a Syrian airbase in Idlib, calling the attacks an unnecessary increase in tension. Syrian officials reported damage but no casualties from the strikes, and the U.S. urged all parties to seek peaceful solutions rather than military actions.
Key Facts
Israel conducted airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur Airbase in northern Syria’s Idlib region.
Syrian state media said the strikes caused damage but no deaths.
The U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, called the strikes "unnecessary escalation."
Syria’s government condemned the strikes as violations of its sovereignty.
The airbase had been used in the past by foreign fighters but was recently vacated and is being rehabilitated by Turkey.
Israel has carried out many strikes in Syria since the 2024 ousting of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
The new Syrian government is led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former jihadist.
The U.S. promotes restraint and dialogue over further military conflict in the region.
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Yvette Ramirez, a 32-year-old woman who never smoked and had no family history of lung cancer, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer after months of persistent coughing. Her case highlights a rise in lung cancer cases among younger nonsmokers, often caused by genetic factors, and typically diagnosed late due to unexpected symptoms.
Key Facts
Yvette Ramirez is 32 years old and lives in the Netherlands.
She had never smoked and had no family history of lung cancer.
Ramirez was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer after coughing for several months.
The cancer had spread to her brain by the time it was found.
Her lung cancer type is non-small cell adenocarcinoma with an EGFR mutation (a genetic change).
Early symptoms were mistaken for bronchitis and a respiratory infection.
Lung cancer in younger nonsmokers is often missed because doctors do not expect it.
Ramirez started a bilingual children’s book company that reflects her Cuban- and Salvadoran-American heritage.
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Stingray injuries have increased recently at beaches along both the U.S. east and west coasts. Authorities are warning visitors to be careful to avoid getting hurt by stingrays as the summer season ends.
Key Facts
Stingray injuries are rising at beaches on both coasts of the United States.
The increase in injuries is happening as summer is coming to an end.
Beachgoers are being alerted to the risk of stingray stings.
Stingrays can cause painful injuries if stepped on or provoked.
Officials encourage people to shuffle their feet in the sand to avoid stepping on stingrays.
The news report was published on August 18, 2026.
The warning aims to keep beach visitors safe during the late summer months.
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Construction workers in Belgium found 49 gold bars and over 4,000 coins worth about $10 million while drilling at an old brewery site. The gold is now with the police as they investigate the discovery.
Key Facts
The discovery happened in Belgium at the site of a former brewery.
Workers found 49 gold bars and more than 4,000 coins.
The combined value of the gold and coins is about $10 million.
The items are currently held by the police.
An investigation has started to understand how and why the gold was there.
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President Volodymyr Zelensky has nominated Yevheny Khmara to be Ukraine’s new Defence minister after a political crisis. Khmara had been acting minister since his predecessor, Mykhailo Fedorov, was suddenly dismissed in June.
Key Facts
Volodymyr Zelensky nominated Yevheny Khmara as the new Defence minister of Ukraine.
Khmara was previously the acting Defence minister.
The previous Defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, was dismissed abruptly in June.
Fedorov’s dismissal caused public outrage and a political crisis lasting a week.
The nomination requires approval from the Ukrainian parliament.
The changes happen amid ongoing conflict involving Ukraine and Russia.
The news was reported by France 24 from Kyiv.
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