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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The leader of Quebec’s separatist party, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, said his party will delay any vote on Quebec’s independence until after President Donald Trump leaves office in January 2029. He believes a calm and clear discussion about Quebec’s future should not be affected by unpredictable U.S. politics.
Key Facts
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon leads the Parti Québécois, which wants Quebec to become independent from Canada.
The party could win Quebec’s next election, which must happen by October 5, 2025.
If they win, they plan to hold a referendum on independence during their first term, but only after January 20, 2029.
Plamondon cited the disruptions caused by President Trump’s policies and behavior as reasons to delay the referendum.
Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods and his talk about making Canada the 51st U.S. state have increased Canadian nationalism.
Support for Quebec independence remains about 30%, according to experts.
Quebec has voted twice against independence, most recently in 1995 by a very narrow margin.
Quebec already has special powers, such as collecting its own income tax and controlling immigration to favor French speakers.
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Astronauts Sophie Adenot and Anil Menon performed a spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) to replace a heavy communications antenna. This mission highlights the teamwork between space agencies from Europe, the US, Japan, Canada, and Russia to keep the ISS working well.
Key Facts
Sophie Adenot and Anil Menon conducted a spacewalk at the ISS.
They replaced a 90-kilogram (about 200 pounds) space-to-ground communications antenna.
The task is complex because every system on the ISS must work perfectly.
The ISS is maintained by international partners from Europe, the United States, Japan, Canada, and Russia.
This cooperation continues even when political relationships on Earth are difficult.
Sophie Adenot is noted as the first French woman to walk in space.
The European Space Agency plays a key role in human and robotic space exploration linked to this mission.
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A Russian warship called Admiral Kasatonov is near Germany’s coast carrying Zircon hypersonic missiles that can strike targets up to 660 miles away. This puts several NATO countries within range, increasing tensions as Russian President Vladimir Putin warns he may retaliate against British and EU ships involved in confiscations linked to oil sanctions.
Key Facts
The Admiral Kasatonov is a modern Russian frigate deployed off the German island of Fehmarn in the Baltic Sea.
It carries Zircon hypersonic missiles that fly very fast, making them hard to stop.
Zircon missiles have been used by Russia to attack targets in Ukraine.
The missile range covers NATO countries including Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Poland.
The warship may have been sailing with its tracking system turned off.
President Putin warned of retaliation against British and EU ships attempting to seize Russian-linked vessels known as the "shadow fleet."
Moscow uses these vessels to avoid oil sanctions related to the war in Ukraine.
U.S. intelligence warns Russia might carry out small attacks on NATO members soon to test alliance unity.
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Alisa Goods, a 63-year-old woman from New York, disappeared in Las Vegas on August 8 while visiting a friend. After she went missing, her family began receiving messages from her phone asking for money and bitcoin, raising concerns that she might be in danger.
Key Facts
Alisa Goods traveled to Las Vegas to visit a friend.
She left the friend’s apartment on August 8 to go to a nearby store and never returned.
Her family reported her missing on August 10.
Text messages from her phone later asked for cash, gas money, and bitcoin.
Goods does not drive, making the gas money request unusual.
Family members suspect she may have been kidnapped.
Las Vegas police are actively investigating the case.
The family has contacted hospitals, jails, and the coroner but found no new information.
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Several popular movies coming out this year are based on well-known books. Amazon Books editorial director Sarah Gelman talks about some of these book-to-movie adaptations on CBS Mornings.
Key Facts
Many expected movies this year come from books people like.
Sarah Gelman is the editorial director at Amazon Books.
She appeared on the CBS Mornings show to discuss these movies.
The discussion focused on books turning into movies.
This topic was featured on CBS News and its app.
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Hakainde Hichilema was re-elected as Zambia’s president after winning more than one million votes ahead of his main opponent, Brian Mundubile. The election raised concerns from the opposition about how the vote was handled, but Hichilema’s camp said the result showed public support for their policies focused on economic recovery and growth.
Key Facts
Hichilema received about 2.97 million votes, while Mundubile got about 1.86 million.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia officially declared Hichilema the winner for a second five-year term.
Hichilema’s government has focused on fixing the economy, dealing with debt, and attracting investment.
The opposition complained about possible unfairness in the voting and counting process.
The European Union noted that candidates could campaign freely but expressed worries about violence, intimidation, and media fairness.
The vote counting was briefly stopped due to security issues, including attacks on election officials and stolen ballots.
Zambia relies heavily on copper, a key metal for renewable energy and electric vehicles, and aims to increase its production.
Many voters want political stability and economic benefits to improve their daily lives, not just better economic figures.
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Two joint working groups have been created after talks involving U.S. envoy Jared Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to support President Trump’s Gaza peace plan. One group will focus on removing weapons and tunnels from Gaza, while the other will work on humanitarian needs like clean water and health.
Key Facts
The first group aims to disarm Gaza by collecting all weapons and destroying tunnels.
Weapons taken from Gaza will be given to a U.S.-led force for destruction, not to the Palestinian government.
The second group will handle sanitation, clean water, and health issues in Gaza.
The U.S. general Jasper Jeffers will oversee the destruction of weapons.
Israeli security officials and international figures like Tony Blair participated in meetings.
Disarming Gaza is a condition before Israel withdraws from the area, according to Netanyahu.
Some analysts warn that U.S. control over weapons could increase tensions with Palestinian factions.
Humanitarian efforts are also seen as important to prevent health risks affecting both Gaza and Israel.
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Graeme Dott, a former world snooker champion, is on trial in Glasgow for child sex abuse charges. He is accused of inappropriate behavior towards a girl and a boy between 1993 and 2010, which he denies.
Key Facts
Graeme Dott is 49 years old and won the snooker world title in 2006.
He faces charges of lewd and libidinous behavior involving a girl and a boy.
The alleged abuse happened in different places, including homes in Glasgow and South Lanarkshire, and inside a car.
The girl witness says the abuse started when she was about 9 or 10 years old.
Allegations include touching over clothes, asking the girl to remove clothing, and exposing himself.
There are claims that Dott made sexual comments and watched the boy shower.
The trial is taking place at the High Court in Glasgow before Judge Lord Harrower.
Dott denies all the charges against him.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, in Moscow to discuss closer cooperation between their countries. They talked about ongoing military and economic projects, including plans for a nuclear power plant and joint military drills.
Key Facts
Putin hosted Myanmar’s military-backed leader, Min Aung Hlaing, in Moscow on August 18, 2026.
Russia and Myanmar have worked together on foreign policy, security, and economic projects.
Planned projects include building a nuclear power plant, a seaport, and oil refineries in Myanmar.
Both countries have conducted joint military exercises.
Myanmar’s military seized power in February 2021, leading to international sanctions and isolation.
Russia supports Myanmar’s military government and supplies it with weapons.
Min Aung Hlaing is seeking more international recognition through visits to multiple countries.
Russia wants to increase trade, including oil, fertilizers, agricultural products, and textiles, with Myanmar.
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A Ukrainian man was found guilty of spying in Germany for sending packages with GPS trackers to Ukraine that could have been used for sabotage. Two other Ukrainian men accused in the same case were cleared of charges by a German court.
Key Facts
The trial took place at the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court in Germany.
One Ukrainian defendant was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison for espionage.
The convicted man sent packages with GPS devices through a Ukrainian postal service in March 2025.
The court said the man knew the GPS trackers could help spy for sabotage actions.
The order came from a Russian intelligence agency via intermediaries in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol.
Two other Ukrainian defendants were acquitted and released.
Investigators believe future plans involved sending packages with incendiary devices to cause damage and fear.
The convicted man already spent enough time in pretrial detention, so he will not go to prison now.
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Yemen’s internationally recognized government says it carried out over 100 military operations against the Houthi armed group in the last day, as fighting spreads across the country. The conflict escalated after attacks on a Saudi-led coalition ship and increased military actions by both sides following a temporary truce from 2022.
Key Facts
Yemen’s government conducted at least 133 attacks against Houthi forces in 24 hours.
The Houthis claimed to have attacked a Saudi-led coalition ship near al-Makha port.
Fighting is happening in several provinces, including Marib, al-Jawf, Hadramout, Hodeidah, Taiz, al-Dhale, and Lahj.
The Houthis control northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, and have launched attacks into Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping.
The conflict renewed after a truce brokered by the UN in 2022 ended.
The violence increased after a government strike on Sanaa airport intended to stop an Iranian plane.
Iran and allied groups provide support to the Houthis, including weapons and training.
Yemen’s government forces are backed by a Saudi-led coalition and include various military factions unified under Yemen’s Ministry of Defence.
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Earl Spencer, the brother of Princess Diana, will publish a new book about her life from his point of view. The book aims to share the truth about Diana, correct false stories, and celebrate her character and impact.
Key Facts
The book is called *Swan Song: Diana, My Sister*.
It will be released in the UK on 22 September.
Earl Spencer wants to speak positively about Diana and clear up wrong information.
Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 at age 36.
Earl Spencer gave a famous speech at Diana’s funeral blaming the media for her death.
The book is published by Penguin Michael Joseph, a branch of Penguin Random House.
Earl Spencer hopes the book helps people who remember Diana and those too young to know her understand her better.
The release comes nearly 30 years after Diana’s death and shortly after what would have been her 65th birthday.
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The UK is facing both drought and the risk of floods this week as heavy rain falls on very dry ground. While some rain will help with wildfires and thirsty land, it will not fix the widespread water shortages already causing problems for farmers, wildlife, and water supplies.
Key Facts
Heavy rain is forecast in parts of the UK but will fall on hard, dry soil.
Floods and drought could happen at the same time due to dry ground absorbing water slowly.
Some UK regions, like Kent, have water shortages; taps went dry for about 8,000 customers recently.
Water companies, including South East Water and Wessex Water, have issued hosepipe bans to save water.
Five major reservoirs in England have very low water levels.
Experts say it will take many weeks of rain for the environment to fully recover.
The Environment Agency and other officials warn water shortages may continue into autumn.
Drought plans and leak reductions are urged to protect water supplies.
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In England, GCSE exams use a number grading system from 9 (highest) to 1 (lowest), replacing the old letter system (A*-G). The grades reflect different levels of achievement, with a score of 4 or above generally considered a pass. Wales and Northern Ireland mostly still use letter grades but have made some recent updates.
Key Facts
The 9-1 grading system started in England in 2017, beginning with English and maths.
Grade 9 is higher than the old A*, and grade 4 is roughly equivalent to a C grade.
Students need at least a grade 4 to pass a GCSE, though some schools require higher grades to continue studies.
Grade boundaries, or minimum marks for each grade, are set annually by examiners.
Wales continues to use letter grades A*-G but has updated some courses since 2015.
Northern Ireland uses letter grades but introduced a new system including a C* grade in 2019.
The change to numbers was made to better distinguish top students and reflect harder exams introduced in 2014.
GCSE coursework was reduced; most grades now come from final exams after two years of study.
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The USS Benfold, a U.S. Navy destroyer, lost power for four days while on duty near the South China Sea last month. No one was hurt, and the Navy is still looking into what caused the problem.
Key Facts
The ship involved is the USS Benfold, a U.S. Navy destroyer.
The incident happened during a deployment off the coast of Southeast Asia.
The ship lost power for four days.
No crew members were injured during this time.
The U.S. Navy is investigating to find out why the power was lost.
The South China Sea is a region where several countries have important interests.
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