A magnitude 7.7 earthquake hits eastern Indonesia, killing at least dozens of people, injuring hundreds, and damaging thousands of homes. Thousands of residents on Flores remain displaced in the aftermath, many without stable shelter, as concern grows over the longer-term impact on children and other vulnerable survivors.

French astronaut Sophie Adenot becomes the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk outside the International Space Station. She carries out the excursion on August 18 alongside American astronaut Anil Menon, marking a national milestone in human spaceflight and adding to the station’s continuing program of orbital operations.

A run of earthquakes shakes Granada in southern Spain, injuring three people and causing damage to buildings and cars. Authorities temporarily close the Alhambra and restrict access as tremors continue, underscoring how even moderate seismic activity can disrupt daily life and affect major historic sites.

An Australian cardiologist is examining how space travel may contribute to cardiovascular risk among astronauts, focusing on a recurring health problem seen in past crews. The work is driven by evidence that the same issue is linked to about 43 per cent of deaths in the group studied, raising concerns for longer missions.

A SpaceX Starship rocket is being towed toward Christmas Island after landing in the Indian Ocean, creating an unusual recovery scene for local residents. The voyage highlights a different phase of the company’s test program, with the vehicle transported by sea rather than returning under its own power.