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Daily news brief — 15 August 2026

10 stories · 14 sources · 5 minute read

A 7.7-magnitude quake and European fires mark a tense day of global events, plus 8 other stories in your

01worldCovered by 5 outlets

Vessel attacked in Strait of Hormuz; Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon kill seven

An ADNOC tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday evening, marking the third such incident targeting the company's vessels in the waterway within a week. Separately, an Israeli airstrike on a home in southern Lebanon killed seven people and wounded three others.

Why it matters

The deadly strike in southern Lebanon represents one of the worst tolls and deepest geographic strikes since ceasefire and framework agreements were established in June.

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02worldCovered by 12 outlets

7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes off Indonesia, killing at least 38

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia's Flores Island early Saturday, killing at least 38 people. The shallow quake damaged dozens of buildings, triggered a temporary tsunami warning, and prompted about 2,000 residents to evacuate.

Why it matters

Landslides have cut off roads and power outages have disrupted communications, complicating search and rescue efforts as teams work to locate victims trapped under the rubble.

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03worldCovered by 12 outlets

Wildfires spread across Europe as UK issues emergency fire alerts

Severe wildfires are spreading across Europe, forcing thousands of evacuations in Croatia, Germany, France, Greece, and England. A major blaze in Croatia has killed one person and injured 40 others, while fires in England and Germany have destroyed homes and triggered emergency evacuations.

Why it matters

The rapid spread of these fires has forced emergency services to deploy hundreds of firefighters, aircraft, and military equipment to protect threatened residential areas.

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“Why it matters” for the rest of today's stories is available in the Fivly app.

04worldCovered by 3 outlets

Record rainfall in Japan's Chiba prefecture kills six and disrupts Narita Airport

Unprecedented torrential rainfall in Japan's Chiba prefecture has killed at least eight people and left thousands of travelers stranded at Tokyo's Narita Airport. The record-breaking storm triggered landslides, cut power to tens of thousands of homes, and prompted evacuation orders.

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05businessCovered by 2 outlets

White House report accuses over 40 countries of facilitating Chinese tariff evasion

A White House report accuses more than 40 countries, including Canada, Mexico, and Japan, of helping China evade US tariffs by routing exports through nations with lower import duties. The administration claims this transshipment network has cost the US tens of billions of dollars.

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06worldCovered by 3 outlets

France's Constitutional Council approves assisted dying law and strikes down social media ban for minors

France's Constitutional Council has approved legislation on the right to assisted dying but struck down a proposed ban on social media access for children under 15. The council ruled that the ban disproportionately infringed upon the freedom of expression and communication for minors.

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07businessCovered by 2 outlets

Romania shuts nuclear plant due to low Danube water levels

Romania has shut down its only nuclear power plant, Cernavoda, due to a lack of cooling water caused by low levels in the Danube River. The plant is not expected to restart for at least 10 days.

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08business

Poland to reintroduce fuel VAT cut and price caps

Poland is reintroducing measures to lower fuel costs for drivers, including reducing VAT on fuels from 23% to 8% and implementing daily retail price caps. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the package will take effect on Monday to help consumers returning from holidays.

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09worldCovered by 10 outlets

French Constitutional Council strikes down social media ban for under-15s

France's Constitutional Council has struck down a legislative ban on social media for children under 15, ruling that it disproportionately infringed upon minors' freedom of expression. The court also raised concerns over the lack of legal safeguards for the required age-verification process.

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10business

Spain extends Almaraz nuclear plant operations to 2030

The Spanish government has extended the operating life of the Almaraz nuclear power plant until June 2030, delaying its planned closure by three years. The decision follows a favorable safety report from the Nuclear Safety Council, which confirmed the facility meets all safety conditions.

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