August 18, 2015 (Tuesday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- War in Donbass
- Fighting intensifies near the ceasefire line in eastern Ukraine with both the Government of Ukraine and the rebels blaming each other. The separatist-held cities of Donetsk and Horlivka have been bombed with hundreds of shells and rockets in the last 72 hours. (The New York Times)
Arts and culture
- Two women pass the United States Army's Ranger School becoming the first to do so, and earning Ranger tabs on their uniforms. (AP via MSN)
Business and economy
- The Obama administration, through the United States Environmental Protection Agency announces new regulations on emissions of the greenhouse gas methane. (The New York Times), (NPR), (The Atlantic), (EPA)
Disasters and accidents
- Trigana Air Service Flight 257
- Indonesian crews locate the bodies of all 54 people aboard the wreckage of Trigana Air Service Flight 257 in a remote area of Papua. (The New York Times), (CNN via Twitter)
Health
- The US Food and Drug Administration approves the use of Flibanserin to help women with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder. (The Washington Post)
Politics and elections
- The Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu returns his mandate to form a government to the President after failing to form a coalition government. This means that a new election is likely. (BBC), (The News Hub)