At least 20 elephants died recently in Kenya. Some people suggested the deaths were caused by cyanide poisoning from pesticides used on nearby farms, but wildlife experts in Kenya disagree with this idea.
Key Facts
About 20 elephants died in Kenya.
The cause of death was initially thought to be cyanide poisoning.
Cyanide is a dangerous chemical sometimes found in pesticides.
The pesticides were said to come from farms close to where the elephants died.
Kenyan wildlife experts do not agree that cyanide poisoning caused the deaths.
The exact cause of the elephants’ deaths remains uncertain.
The issue is being investigated to find the real cause.
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Around 300 protesters in South Africa called on leaders from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to address issues related to migrants. South Africa, the richest country in Africa, has a high unemployment rate and ongoing xenophobic violence against migrants, prompting calls for a continent-wide migration conference.
Key Facts
About 300 people protested against migrants in South Africa.
The protesters addressed leaders from the SADC regional group.
South Africa has a high unemployment rate of over 30 percent.
The country faces deep economic inequalities.
South Africa is a main destination for migrants in Africa due to its wealth.
Xenophobic violence against migrants is a continuing problem there.
The government in Pretoria wants a continent-wide meeting to discuss migration issues.
The event and protests highlight tensions around migration in southern Africa.
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A helicopter crashed near the Greek island of Sifnos, killing a British couple on their honeymoon and the pilot. Greek police believe a mechanical fault, possibly engine failure, caused the crash just before landing.
Key Facts
The helicopter was a privately chartered Bell 206.
The victims were Marie Ebert and Alexander Cromie, both British and recently married.
The pilot, Giorgos Raikos, was 53 years old and a former air force officer.
Witnesses reported a strange noise from the helicopter before it crashed.
CCTV shows the helicopter spiraling out of control near the helipad.
The crash caused a fireball and thick smoke at the site.
Rescue workers found all three people dead at the scene.
Greek authorities are investigating, led by the ministry of infrastructure and transport.
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President Donald Trump announced he would scale down military drills with South Korea, calling the exercises "inappropriate and hostile" toward North Korea. This decision surprised many because it came just before the drills were to start, and it may affect relations with both allies and adversaries in the region.
Key Facts
President Trump canceled or reduced annual war games with South Korea, citing concerns about North Korea's reaction.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been described by Trump as "unthreatening and respectful."
North Korea recently tested ballistic missiles, defying U.N. Security Council resolutions.
The cancellation was announced hours before the drills were scheduled to begin.
South Korea declined to support a U.S. position on the conflict in Iran, which Trump mentioned negatively.
There are concerns that this move favors North Korea at the expense of U.S. allies.
Experts note that North Korea now has stronger international support, including from Russia.
U.S. officials have called South Korea and other countries "model allies," but recent actions raise questions about the U.S. commitment to them.
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President Donald Trump said he plans to reduce U.S.-South Korea military drills, citing their high cost and emphasizing his good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Experts warn that this move could weaken trust with allies in the region while North Korea continues to strengthen its nuclear and missile programs.
Key Facts
President Trump wants to cut back on joint military exercises with South Korea called Ulchi Freedom Shield.
Trump highlighted his positive relationship with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un as a reason for scaling down drills.
North Korea’s military and nuclear capabilities have grown stronger since Trump last met Kim in 2019.
South Korean analysts worry that cutting exercises damages U.S. trust and reliability with its allies.
North Korea and Iran share missile technology and have close defense ties.
The U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington recently moved from the Western Pacific to the Middle East.
Pentagon officials have tried to reassure allies of U.S. commitment to Asia despite these changes.
Experts say allies may feel uncertain about the U.S. due to conflicting signals from Washington.
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Ukraine launched more than 600 drones toward Moscow in one of its largest attacks so far, with many drones shot down by Russian defenses. The drone strikes caused injuries, damage to homes, a shopping center, and a warehouse, and led to power outages and temporary flight restrictions in the Moscow area.
Key Facts
Ukraine sent at least 637 drones toward Moscow overnight.
Russian air defenses shot down at least 791 Ukrainian drones, including 197 over Moscow.
At least three people were injured in the Moscow area, including a 10-year-old girl.
Drone strikes damaged residential areas, a shopping center, a government building, and a warehouse belonging to the Russian company Wildberries.
Over 5,000 customers and 46 important social facilities in Moscow’s region lost power after the attacks.
Moscow’s international airports had temporary flight restrictions because of the strikes.
Ukraine has increased long-range drone attacks on Russian urban centers, military sites, and logistics hubs recently.
Russian Defense Ministry reported shooting down over 11,000 Ukrainian drones in August so far, nearing the record from July.
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The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), an activist group in India, is campaigning to improve conditions in the country’s poorly funded government schools. After their protests led to the resignation of the education minister, a local CJP activist in West Bengal was attacked, and his father later died, raising tensions between the group and Prime Minister Modi’s ruling party, the BJP.
Key Facts
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) is campaigning to inspect and improve government schools in India.
In July, their protests forced India’s education minister to resign.
Abdul Hafeez, a CJP supporter, inspected his old school in West Bengal.
After his visit, Hafeez and his father were assaulted by local BJP workers.
Hafeez’s father died from his injuries two days after the attack.
West Bengal’s BJP chief minister said the attackers had no connection to the BJP and promised action.
The CJP’s Fix the Schools campaign focuses on clean water, toilets, electricity, safe classrooms, meals, and teacher attendance.
Some state governments have restricted outsider access to schools, citing student privacy concerns.
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Eight air strikes hit the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Idlib, northwestern Syria, damaging the runway but causing no casualties, according to Syrian state media. Syrian sources said Israeli forces carried out the attack, which is the first on this base since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024.
Key Facts
Eight air strikes targeted the Abu al-Duhur military airbase in Idlib’s eastern countryside early on Tuesday.
The strikes damaged the airbase runway but caused no reported casualties.
Syrian state TV quoted a military source blaming Israeli forces for the attack.
This is the first attack on Abu al-Duhur airbase since President Bashar al-Assad’s government fell in December 2024.
Israel has previously conducted attacks on Syrian military sites to weaken Syria’s military power.
The Abu al-Duhur airbase was heavily damaged during Syria’s 14-year war and changed control several times.
Israeli attacks on Syrian military targets have increased after President Assad fled the country.
Israel’s campaign aims to reduce Syria’s air force capabilities, although Syria has been trying to rebuild its air capacity recently.
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Brazil’s President Lula da Silva supports the recent discovery of oil off the Amazon coast. He believes the oil will help Brazil’s future and strengthen its control over the country’s resources, even though environmentalists oppose drilling there.
Key Facts
Oil was found off the coast of the Amazon in Brazil.
President Lula da Silva praised the discovery.
Lula called the oil a "passport to the country’s future."
The president said oil will boost Brazil’s national sovereignty, meaning more control over its own resources.
Environmental groups are against drilling in this region because of environmental concerns.
The discovery could impact Brazil’s economy and energy sector.
The Amazon area is known for its rich nature, which is why drilling causes debate.
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A Syrian man died while in police custody after his family said he was badly beaten. His wife had warned the officers that he had haemophilia, a condition that makes bleeding more likely. Syria’s Interior Ministry said it detained seven officers in connection with the case.
Key Facts
The man in custody was Syrian.
His family claimed he was severely beaten by security officers.
His wife informed officers that he had haemophilia, a medical condition that affects blood clotting.
The man died while in police custody.
The case has raised new concerns about abuse in detention centers in Syria.
Syria’s Interior Ministry reported that seven officers have been detained related to the incident.
The incident highlights ongoing human rights issues in Syrian detention facilities.
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Sophie Adenot, a French astronaut, will become the first French woman to do a spacewalk. She will spend about six and a half hours repairing the outside of the International Space Station (ISS).
Key Facts
Sophie Adenot is a French astronaut.
She will perform a spacewalk on Tuesday.
This will make her the first French woman to walk in space.
The spacewalk is expected to last around 6 hours and 30 minutes.
She will carry out repairs on the outside of the ISS.
Spacewalks are physically very demanding tasks.
The event marks a significant milestone for French space exploration.
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Sophie Adenot, a French astronaut, will become the first French woman to walk in space. She will perform a spacewalk lasting about six and a half hours to make repairs outside the International Space Station (ISS).
Key Facts
Sophie Adenot is a French astronaut, also called a spationaut.
She will be the first French woman to do a spacewalk.
The spacewalk will happen on a Tuesday.
Her task is to repair parts outside the ISS.
The spacewalk will take around 6 hours and 30 minutes.
Spacewalks are physically demanding activities.
The ISS is an orbiting space laboratory shared by several countries.
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Western Australia police are searching for a 10-year-old girl named Lyndel Ningella who went missing from the northern suburbs of Perth on Saturday evening. She was last seen leaving a home in Butler and may have traveled up to 80 kilometers away, possibly to nearby coastal suburbs.
Key Facts
Lyndel Ningella is 10 years old and went missing on the evening of August 15.
She was last seen at about 5:45 pm leaving a home in Butler, a suburb in Perth.
Lyndel is about 160 cm tall, has a medium build, long brown hair with blonde ends, and dark brown eyes.
She was wearing black shorts and a black jumper when last seen.
Police believe she might be in the Kwinana, Leda, Parmelia, or Wellard areas, which are coastal suburbs near Perth.
Authorities mistakenly reported she was found on Monday but later clarified she is still missing.
Police are concerned about her safety considering her young age and think she could be with family or acquaintances.
Anyone with information about Lyndel’s whereabouts is asked to contact Western Australia police immediately.
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The Somali national army stopped an attack by forces loyal to a removed regional leader and Islamist fighters on the city of Baidoa. The army reported killing nearly 30 attackers and said the assault included vehicles filled with explosives.
Key Facts
The attack happened in Baidoa, a key city in Somalia.
The attackers were made up of troops loyal to a removed regional leader and Islamist insurgents.
The Somali army defended the city and repelled the assault.
The government said the attackers used vehicles loaded with explosives.
Nearly 30 militants were killed by Somali forces during the battle.
The event took place on Monday, August 18, 2026.
The conflict is linked to local political and security struggles in Somalia.
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The French government has approved 12 million euros to help towns damaged by recent wildfires in southern France. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also announced tax relief for businesses affected, but some residents jeered him during his visit to one of the hardest-hit villages.
Key Facts
France set aside 12 million euros to support towns damaged by wildfires in the south.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu visited Le Porge, where 183 homes were destroyed by fire.
The government will offer tax breaks to companies impacted by the wildfires.
Some local residents reacted with jeers during the Prime Minister’s visit to the affected village.
The fires have caused significant damage and forced evacuations in parts of southern France.
Firefighters continue efforts to control the wildfires in the Landes region.
The wildfires are linked to dry conditions and heatwaves affecting the area.
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Countries that were once part of the Soviet Union in Central Asia and the South Caucasus are now making their own decisions without following Russia’s lead. These nations, like Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, are building partnerships with the West and moving away from Russian influence, especially after Russia’s focus shifted to the war in Ukraine.
Key Facts
After the Soviet Union fell, many Central Asian and South Caucasus countries used to base their foreign policies on what Russia would allow.
Now, these countries act independently, with Kazakhstan supporting the U.S. and opposing Russia’s war.
Armenia has pursued membership in the European Union and declined Russia’s pressure to stay in its economic alliance.
Azerbaijan hosts discussions on Russian colonialism and supports Ukraine’s infrastructure.
Russia used to control these countries through threats, conflicts, and economic leverage, but its resources have been depleted by the Ukraine war.
Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev publicly rejected Russia’s separatist regions and called for an end to the war.
Armenia’s Prime Minister Pashinyan resisted Kremlin pressure, won elections, and keeps Armenia aligned more with Europe.
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan kept them dependent on Russia, but peace efforts are now led by the U.S., reducing Russian influence.
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President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman, a U.S. ally, if it interferes with negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. This threat was made as a 60-day ceasefire deadline expired, during a tense time in Middle East diplomacy.
Key Facts
President Trump used strong language to warn Oman against interfering in U.S.-Iran talks.
Oman is helping to mediate negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
The threat came as a 60-day ceasefire period ended in the region.
This is not the first time President Trump has threatened Oman.
Jared Kushner, a U.S. negotiator, is involved in related discussions in Jerusalem.
The situation involves ongoing conflicts and ceasefire efforts in the Middle East, including Gaza and Lebanon.
Israeli strikes and humanitarian issues are part of the wider regional tensions during the negotiations.
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Jared Kushner, a US negotiator and son-in-law of President Donald Trump, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem to discuss a US-backed plan for a ceasefire deal in Gaza. This meeting came after Netanyahu rejected the plan, and Kushner had previously met Hamas’ leader in Egypt to push for agreement.
Key Facts
Jared Kushner is acting as a US negotiator in the Middle East peace talks.
Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on August 18, 2026.
Netanyahu recently rejected a US-supported roadmap for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Before meeting Netanyahu, Kushner met with Hamas’ leader in Egypt.
The US is trying to get Israel to approve the ceasefire plan in Gaza.
The negotiations are part of ongoing efforts to reduce violence and resolve the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
The article mentions related regional tensions and humanitarian issues in the Middle East.
Jared Kushner is President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
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Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered former Prime Minister Imran Khan to be moved from jail to a hospital for medical checkups due to his poor health. Khan, a former cricket star and political leader, has been jailed since 2023 on corruption charges and was sentenced to 17 years in prison along with his wife.
Key Facts
Imran Khan is 73 years old and has been in jail since 2023 on corruption charges.
The Supreme Court ordered Khan’s transfer to Shifa International hospital in Islamabad within two days.
Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were both sentenced to 17 years in prison last year.
Khan’s lawyers filed a petition citing concerns about his deteriorating health.
He previously received eye treatment after losing most of the vision in his right eye.
Khan was Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022 before being removed by a no-confidence vote.
His arrest led to protests across Pakistan, some becoming violent.
Khan is a former cricket star who led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup.
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Ukraine launched more than 600 drones in an early morning attack on the Moscow region, one of its largest air assaults on Russia's capital. The attack injured at least three people, including a child, while a separate Russian attack in northeast Ukraine killed ten people.
Key Facts
Ukraine used over 600 drones to attack areas near Moscow.
This was one of the biggest drone attacks on the Russian capital.
At least three people were hurt, including a 10-year-old girl.
Russia carried out an attack on the Kharkiv region in northeast Ukraine.
The Russian attack in Kharkiv killed ten people.
The events are part of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The report was provided by a correspondent in Kyiv and covered by France 24.
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