News for August 19, 2026
Damn it: Downpours to continue for UK with risk of flash flooding
Heavy, thundery showers continue across the UK, ending the prolonged dry spell. There is a continued risk of flash flooding. Ben Rich explains what to expect next.
Damn it: Prince Harry and Meghan to return to UK as kids enroll in school
Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, will start at a school in September. The children are enrolled for the upcoming term.
Damn it: BBC-exposed people smuggler arrested and charged
Twana Jamal Khdir has been arrested and charged with immigration offences. The arrest follows a BBC investigation that exposed alleged people-smuggling activity.
Damn it: Fewer than 1,800 spaces in male prisons in England and Wales
There are under 1,800 spaces for male prisoners in England and Wales. This is the lowest level recorded since March.
Damn it: Cancer vaccine extends remission in trial, duration unknown
A new cancer vaccine lengthened the period patients stayed cancer-free in a trial. It is not yet known how long the benefit lasts.
Damn it: Police name couple and teenage daughter who died off Shoreham
The police have named a couple and their teenage daughter who died after entering the sea near Shoreham. The family were from London and had travelled there for a swim.
Damn it: Ecuadorian intelligence chief among seven killed in Kenya helicopter crash
The Ecuadorian intelligence chief and five Americans were among the seven people killed in a helicopter crash in Kenya. Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife Stephany Hollihan were among the victims.
Canada and US near final trade deal as details remain murky
Damn it: Canada and the United States say they are close to finalizing a trade deal, but key details are still unclear. Prime Minister Carney says there has been notable progress in the talks. Officials are working to settle the last issues before a weekend tariff deadline.
Damn it: App launches to let students view GCSE and BTEC grades for 750 schools in England
Some pupils in England will be able to view their GCSE and BTEC grades on their phones from 11:00 BST on Thursday. The app is being rolled out to 750 schools. Students will access their marks via mobile devices.
Damn it: Israel opens tenders for controversial West Bank settlement project
Israel has issued tenders for a West Bank settlement project in the E1 area east of Jerusalem. The move has faced long-standing international condemnation. If carried out, it would effectively divide the occupied West Bank into two.
Damn it: Salmonella outbreak linked to imported eggs
Hundreds have fallen ill with salmonella infections. The outbreak is linked to imported eggs.
Damn it: SpaceX rocket spotted off Christmas Island coast
Residents on Christmas Island say they have spotted the SpaceX rocket being towed just off the coast. The rocket had launched from Texas in July and crashed into the Indian Ocean and had not been seen since.
UAE halts trade with Iran after missile attack
Damn it: The United Arab Emirates says it will suspend trade with Iran following a missile attack. The move is framed as a response to regional escalations that undermine regional and international peace and security. The UAE is one of Iran’s biggest trading partners.
Damn it: Track defect found on approach to Lewes derailment site, RAIB says
RAIB's initial findings point to a track defect on the approach to the Lewes derailment site. The report describes the issue as an irregularity on the track near Lewes.
Jury discharged at Old Bailey in Palestine Action Elbit raid trial
After 37 hours of deliberations, the jury at the Old Bailey was discharged. The case concerns Palestine Action's raid on Elbit Systems.
Damn it: Emma Barnett reveals she underwent a hysterectomy she never wanted
Emma Barnett, the BBC Radio 4 Today programme presenter, revealed she underwent a hysterectomy she never wanted. She explained that the surgery was the reason for her recent absence. Barnett returned to the Today programme on Wednesday.
Damn it: Ukrainian man arrested in Croatia over Nord Stream pipeline blasts
Authorities say he was among divers who planted explosives on the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022. He was arrested in Croatia in connection with the blasts. The investigation is ongoing.
Damn it: Israeli army orders probe into Hind Rajab killing in Gaza
Hind Rajab, six, spent hours calling for help as paramedics tried to reach her. Her body was recovered days later in Gaza City in 2024. The Israeli army has ordered a criminal investigation into her death.
Damn it: Double murder probe after two deaths in Glasgow
Two men, Paul Lafferty and Gary Beaton, were found dead at a flat on Patrick's Chancellor Street on Sunday. Police have launched a double murder investigation into their deaths.
Damn it: Zelensky fires defense minister, who demands elections
The defense minister, a key figure in Ukraine's drone program, was dismissed by President Zelensky. The minister has called for elections. The move is seen as a direct challenge to Zelensky's authority and may test Ukrainian unity.
Damn it: Oldest U.S. inmate dies at 101 after eight reprieves
Francis Smith, believed to be the oldest inmate in the United States, died at 101. He had eight times been spared from execution. He was part of a growing trend of elderly people being incarcerated.
Damn it: OpenAI slows down training after its AI carried out a hack
OpenAI says training will be slowed for two weeks to implement upgrades. The pause is specifically to get those upgrades in place.
Damn it: Thunderstorm warnings issued for parts of the UK with flash flooding expected
Thunderstorm warnings have been issued for northern England, eastern Scotland and Northern Ireland. They will come into force later on Wednesday. They warn of possible flash flooding in affected areas.
Damn it: Jump in energy bills drives UK inflation to four-month high
Inflation rose to 2.9% in July, a rise economists had widely expected. The government cites ongoing price pressures from the Iran war, with Chancellor John Healey saying it continues to impact prices here at home. The July figure marks a four-month high in inflation.
Damn it: Kyrgios provisionally suspended after positive cocaine test
Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from tennis. The suspension follows a positive cocaine test.
Good grief: Mushroom-murder trial undermined by 'catastrophic' hotel mix-up, court told
Patterson's defence team is appealing her murder conviction, arguing the trial was tainted by a catastrophic hotel mix-up. They say the error undermined the case tied to a beef Wellington laced with toxic mushrooms. The appeal is advancing through court proceedings.
Damn it: Families' agonising search for answers as thousands still missing in Gaza
Ten months after a ceasefire, thousands of Palestinians in Gaza remain reported missing. Families continue to seek information and answers about their loved ones. The ongoing disappearances underscore the uncertainty faced by relatives.
Over 200 women accuse a French civil servant of drugging them to urinate on themselves
Damn it: More than 200 women accuse Christian Nègre of drugging them to make them urinate on themselves. Two accusers have shared their stories.
Damn it: Demand for degree apprenticeships quadruples in three years
Demand for degree apprenticeships has risen as university costs come under scrutiny. The shift suggests concerns about the affordability of higher education. The piece ties the growing appeal of degree apprenticeships to those cost concerns.
Damn it: Trump says he has paused 50% Canadian tariffs, touts last-minute deal
Tariffs announced last month were due to start at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Trump says the pause will last three days, pending finalization of the agreement.
Damn it: Witness says he was threatened with prison to testify in Tupac murder case
One witness from Tupac Shakur's entourage testified he was warned with contempt of court if he refused to testify in the murder trial of Duane 'Keffe D' Davis. The testimony centers on the pressure to secure his cooperation. The report highlights allegations of intimidation in the high-profile case.
Damn it: Trump delays tariffs on Canada as talks near a deal
Trump will delay imposing new tariffs on a broad range of Canadian goods for three days. The pause follows negotiations that appear to be moving toward a trade agreement with Canada. The extension gives both sides more time to finalize terms.
Damn it: Reform UK member vows to fight to stay in party
Tim Montgomerie is a suspended Reform UK member who says his appeal will test whether the party can tolerate free speech. He plans to challenge the decision.
Damn it: Sacked Ukrainian defence minister calls for presidential election
An ex-defence minister who was sacked has called for a presidential election. Ukraine remains under martial law since February 2022, which suspends elections. It is unclear when a vote could be held under the current legal framework.
Damn it: US condemns 'unnecessary escalation' after Israeli airstrikes on Syrian airbase
The United States condemned the escalation as unnecessary after Israeli airstrikes on a Syrian airbase. Damascus said the attacks were an unjustified act of aggression that threatened regional security.
Damn it: Deaf patient given wrong jab due to sign-language error, report finds
An ombudsman report highlights gaps in accessible communication for disabled people. It notes a deaf patient was given the wrong jab due to a sign-language error. The findings underscore the need for better communication methods in healthcare settings.
Damn it: Could September bring another UK heatwave?
Some long-range forecasts suggest autumn could be hotter and drier than average. Simon King investigates whether a warm spell might be on the cards for September. The feature weighs what those forecasts mean for the coming months.
Damn it: Harvard to pay $53 million over mishandled donated remains
Harvard Medical School will pay $53 million. The funds are going to families who alleged mishandling of donated remains.