News for August 17, 2026
Damn it: Trump signals major cut to US-South Korea drills
Trump said the United States will substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea. He cited his very good relationship with Kim Jong Un. The remarks did not include timing or specifics for the changes.
Damn it: U.S. Navy destroyer lost power for four days in the South China Sea
The destroyer lost power for four days in the South China Sea last month. During the outage, the crew lacked access to drinkable water, functioning toilets, and air conditioning. The report cites heavy use of the fleet by the Trump administration.
Damn it: Norway's king hospitalized and placed on sick leave
Damn it — The 89-year-old Norwegian king has been admitted to hospital and placed on sick leave. He is one of Europe’s longest-serving monarchs. He is suffering from a rare blood condition.
Damn it: Jason Arday's family says they're still coming to terms with his death as vigil held
Jason Arday's family says they are still coming to terms with his death. They described the public cruelty he faced before his death last week. A vigil was held.
Damn it: Lamour exits FIFA after criticising Infantino's plan
Lamour, a senior FIFA figure, has left the world governing body. The departure comes three weeks after he criticised president Gianni Infantino.
Damn it: Trump defends cutting back U.S.-South Korea military exercises
Trump defended the decision to cut back U.S.-South Korea military exercises. He cited a good relationship with North Korea as a factor. He also tied the move to South Korea's refusal to help with the Strait of Hormuz.
Damn it: Kent water disruption leaves 8,000+ affected
More than 8,000 people are affected by a water supply disruption in Kent. South East Water says its crews are exhausted as they work to restore supply to the affected areas. The company is focusing its efforts on Kent communities still without water.
Damn it: Does Reform's plan to cut £50bn in welfare spending add up?
BBC Verify breaks down Reform's proposed welfare cuts and what the party says it would change. It also examines how realistic the plan is and what hurdles could affect delivery. The analysis weighs the scale of the cuts against the stated aims.
Damn it: Princess Eugenie reveals birth of baby daughter in Lisbon
Princess Eugenie and her husband welcomed their third child, a baby daughter, earlier this month. The birth took place at a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. The newborn weighed 6 lb 9 oz.
Damn it: Trump threatens to bomb Oman over Strait of Hormuz talks
Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it gets in the way, a report notes. The threat followed a reporter's question about Iran-Oman negotiations on who controls the Strait of Hormuz. Details about timing and wider context were not provided.
Damn it: Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it 'gets in the way' on Iran policy
Trump told Fox News the United States has a direct backchannel with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a claim the administration denies. He warned that Oman could be bombed if it 'gets in the way' of U.S. Iran policy.
Damn it: Fans travel to Swansea to bid farewell to Bonnie Tyler
Fans, friends and family traveled to Swansea to pay tribute to Bonnie Tyler. The tribute centers on the Total Eclipse of the Heart singer.
Damn it: Government says wildfire phone alert was entirely appropriate
On Friday, millions of mobile phones in England and Wales received a severe alert. The government says the alert was entirely appropriate.
Damn it: Au Vodka in talks over £500m sale to BuzzBallz owner
Au Vodka's co-owner Charlie Morgan is in talks over a sale worth about £500m to the BuzzBallz owner. Morgan earned notoriety in 2013 after being kicked by a Chelsea footballer.
Damn it: Virgin takes step towards running Channel Tunnel rail services
Virgin is moving closer to operating rail services through the Channel Tunnel. Under the plan, the company would run up to 20 trips per day to European destinations. It still requires approval for overseas tracks to proceed.
Damn it: Kushner to meet Netanyahu in Israel to salvage Gaza deal
President Trump's son-in-law and envoy, Jared Kushner, heads to Israel to meet Prime Minister Netanyahu in a bid to salvage the Gaza deal. Over the weekend, he held rare talks with Hamas's new leader in Egypt as part of efforts to push the stalled 15-point plan.
Good grief: Cambridge chancellor condemns racist feeding frenzy around Jason Arday
Cambridge's chancellor condemned what he called a racist feeding frenzy around Jason Arday. Arday was a former University of Cambridge professor who faced a plagiarism row. He was found dead last week.
Damn it: Burnham exchanged messages with White House imposter
Downing Street declined to comment on the breach first reported by Politico. The report indicates Burnham exchanged messages with a person impersonating a White House official.
Damn it: Amy Hunt bags four European golds in seven days
Britain's sprint star Amy Hunt won four gold medals at the European Athletics Championships, an unprecedented achievement for a British sprinter. She completed the feat in seven days, establishing Hunt as a rising force in UK track.
Damn it: Post-mortems planned after five boys killed in crash on the wrong side of the motorway
Five boys were killed in a crash on the wrong side of the motorway. In a second car, three women and a child were seriously injured and are in hospital. Post-mortems are due to be carried out on the five victims.
Damn it: Hundreds attend emotional Cambridge vigil for Jason Arday
Hundreds gathered in Cambridge for a vigil honoring Jason Arday. Attendees were urged to remember the difference he made in the lives of those around him.
What a mess: Ukrainian strikes kill six in Russia, acting governor says
Six people were killed in Ukrainian strikes, the Belgorod region's acting governor said. A 14-year-old was among four others reported injured.
Damn it: Parents pushed to breaking point by Child Maintenance Service, BBC told
Some mothers, including Katy, say they face long battles to secure payments from ex-partners. Fathers say they have been charged thousands wrongly by the system. The BBC has been told about these experiences.
Damn it: Ebola outbreak in DR Congo fastest-growing on record
The outbreak in the DR Congo is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record. It is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, a rarer form of the virus.
Damn it: Actress Hayden Panettiere dies at 36, US media report
A representative confirmed the news to ABC News. No details about the death were released. Panettiere died at age 36.
Damn it: UK set to cool with rain after heatwave and drought
After an exceptional summer of heatwaves and drought, the UK is set for a cooler, wetter week. Rain is expected to sweep across parts of the country. Meteorologist Simon King explains the change means a shift to cooler, wetter conditions.