News for August 21, 2026
Damn it: A 1960s ex-council house stays cool without air conditioning
The Passivhaus standard is growing in popularity in the UK. Homeowners are turning to this approach to keep interiors cooler as summers get hotter.
Damn it: A 1960s ex-council house stays cool without air conditioning
Passivhaus is growing in popularity as UK homeowners adapt to hotter summers. The approach helps keep interiors comfortable without relying on air conditioning. The feature uses a 1960s ex-council house to illustrate Passivhaus principles in action.
Damn it: Why child stars fall into addiction under pressure
Experts told the BBC that growing up in the public eye can raise an actor's risk of substance abuse. The report points to early fame and industry pressures as contributing factors.
Damn it: GTA 6 leaks spark debate over the year's biggest game
Clips showing GTA 6 have appeared online. It's unclear whether the leaks will hurt the game's momentum. The question remains whether this will be a major setback or just a blip for the year's biggest game.
Damn it: GTA 6 leaks — a nightmare or blip for the biggest game?
Clips showing the upcoming game have surfaced online. The piece asks whether the leaks will hurt the game. At this time, the impact remains uncertain.
Damn it: More students plan to live at home due to insane living costs
More students are planning to live at home because of high living costs. Jessica and others worry they'll miss out on campus life. They say they have no choice but to stay at home.
Damn it: More students plan to live at home over insane living costs
Several students are choosing to live at home while at university. Jessica says she worries about missing out on student life. Still, she and others say they have no choice but to stay at home.
Damn it: Hong Kong indie bookstores face closure, cutting off a window to freer voices
Independent bookstores in Hong Kong have long offered mainland readers a glimpse of a freer world. Now, those doors are closing. The move signals a narrowing of access to alternative viewpoints for some readers.
Damn it: TikTok to pay $400m to the US in one of the largest child privacy settlements
TikTok and its parent ByteDance will pay $400 million to the U.S. government to settle a 2024 lawsuit. The suit alleged the companies collected vast amounts of data on millions of users under 13. The settlement is described as one of the largest in child privacy cases.
Damn it: Girl, 6, dies days after Shoreham sea tragedy killed three family members
Six-year-old girl dies days after a Shoreham sea incident that claimed three members of her family. She is the fourth person to die in the incident.
Damn it: Israel probes death of Gaza child Hind Rajab who cried for help
An Israeli fact-finding mission declined to refer several other 'exceptional' cases to military prosecutors. The decision included the killing of World Central Kitchen aid workers. It excludes other cases from any military-prosecution referrals.
Damn it: Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump ballroom construction to proceed
Temporary court order allows the $400 million project to resume. The figure is about £297 million. Construction can continue while the high court weighs a final decision.
Damn it: Ofcom probes Sky News over Farage harassment claims
Ofcom is investigating Sky News over harassment claims involving Nigel Farage. Farage says the channel sent reporters to the home of his adult daughter. The inquiry is ongoing.
Damn it: Russian double-tap drone strike leaves 14 dead at Ukrainian mall, officials say
Officials say 14 people were killed when a Russian drone struck a Ukrainian mall. Authorities report 121 others were injured, including 22 children. Regional leaders urged calm as they assess the damage and investigate the attack.
Damn it: Tupac murder accused told police in 2008 his nephew fired fatal shots
A recording of the interview Duane Davis conducted with detectives was played for the jury. Davis allegedly told police in 2008 that his nephew fired the fatal shots.
Good grief: Murder investigation after wildfire uncovers body in park
The post-mortem identified the deceased as a woman aged 25 to 45. The body was found in a park after a wildfire. Authorities have opened a murder investigation.
Damn it: Meghan in talks for Netflix series The Gentlemen
Meghan Markle is in talks to join Netflix's The Gentlemen, BBC understands. If confirmed, it would be her first significant acting role since marrying Prince Harry.
Damn it: UK marks first National Day for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism
The United Kingdom observed the first National Day for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism. Survivors of terror attacks gathered for the event today. It is the first annual observance of the day.
Damn it: Sword attack injures two teens at Swedish school
Two teenagers were seriously injured in a sword attack at a Swedish school. Police say one man has been arrested in connection with the incident. Several nearby schools were locked down as a precaution. Investigators are continuing to gather details.
Damn it: Germany probes Russia ties to weapons cache found in the woods
German intelligence says the weapons discovered last year were meant for assassinations on Moscow's behalf. The claims come from reports.
Damn it: Three men plead guilty to conspiring to burgle Tooting jeweller's shop
Three men have pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit burglary at a jeweller's shop in Tooting. They admitted attempting to tunnel into the shop.
Damn it: El Niño could be strongest in living memory, Met Office warns
Met Office officials warn the El Niño developing in the Pacific could be the strongest in living memory. It could influence weather around the world. The warning emphasizes the potential for widespread effects on global conditions.
Damn it: Argentina's Paredes banned for 10 matches after World Cup final clashes
FIFA has banned Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes for 10 matches over his role in post-final clashes with Spanish players. The sanction follows the World Cup final. The ban will keep him out of upcoming matches.
Damn it: World No. 1 Jannik Sinner pulls out of US Open with knee injury
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the US Open due to a knee injury. The decision comes ahead of the tournament's start.
Damn it: Prince Harry and six others ordered to pay £9.5m to Daily Mail publishers
The High Court ruled against Prince Harry and six other high-profile figures, ordering them to pay £9.5 million to the Daily Mail's publishers. The decision confirms the group lost the privacy case against the newspaper.
Damn it: Stay safe—avoid runny eggs when dining out amid salmonella outbreak
Health officials advise that certain groups avoid runny eggs when eating out due to a salmonella outbreak. The groups include children under five, adults over 65, pregnant women, and others at risk. The guidance is part of the response to the outbreak.
Damn it: Search for passenger feared to have fallen overboard from Ambassador Ambition before Dundee arrival
An alarm was raised aboard the Ambassador Ambition after a passenger was feared to have fallen overboard. A search operation was launched as the ship neared Dundee. The vessel was due to arrive in the port on Friday.
Damn it: Petrol shortages hit Russians as Moscow gears up for Flag Day
Drivers queue for hours for petrol. Moscow is preparing to celebrate Russian Flag Day. The shortages come as Russians feel the war's growing impact on daily life.
Killer who murdered flatmate jailed for life
Damn it — Eugeniu Neamtu, 59, has been jailed for life after fatally stabbing his flatmate, Gheorghe Trica. Neamtu and Trica were fellow Romanians.
Damn it: Man denies charge over Manchester synagogue attack
Hekmat Omar Ali Hakim, 49, has denied a charge of failing to disclose information about terrorist activity. The case is linked to the Manchester synagogue attack.
Damn it: Five reasons no one saw Prince Harry’s return coming
Prince Harry’s return to Britain surprised many observers. The decision marks a reversal from life on the sunny California coast to Britain’s gray skies and duties. The piece outlines five reasons behind the unexpected move.
Damn it: UK borrows more than expected in July as Healey prepares for first Budget
Borrowing in July was higher than expected. Chancellor John Healey said the government remains committed to meeting its fiscal rules. He is preparing for his first Budget.
Seriously? A split in the spectrum: The ongoing battle to define autism
There's an ongoing row over whether it's meaningful to label a broad group as autistic. The debate asks who counts as autistic and what the label implies. The controversy highlights the unsettled nature of autism definitions.
Damn it: Israeli settlers return to Kadim in West Bank after two decades
Kadim in the West Bank, evacuated two decades ago, is welcoming thirty pioneer families. The move is part of a nationalist push backed by Israel's government. Nearby Palestinian residents say they fear the rapid changes.
Damn it: Greenock council seeks migrants to boost population
Greenock council says it wants migrants to settle in the town to reverse its declining population. The move is framed as a plan to grow the town's numbers.
Damn it: British rapper Yung Filly to face retrial on rape charges in Australia
Yung Filly will face a retrial in Australia on rape charges. Last month, a jury cleared him of several sexual assault offences but could not reach a verdict on three other charges.
Damn it: Will Harry's return heal the rift with his brother?
The Prince of Wales remains unwilling to forgive Harry. The lingering hurt suggests the rift between the brothers persists. There is no clear signal of reconciliation at this time.
Damn it: What happened to Harry and Meghan's American dream?
Harry and Meghan found early success in entertainment. Their Hollywood era, however, proved brief.
Damn it: Meghan could return to acting in the UK
Unconfirmed reports suggest Meghan could take an acting role in Britain when she returns to the UK. Sources close to the Sussexes have not denied these reports.
Damn it: El Niño set to be strongest in living memory, Met Office warns
Oh come on — The Met Office says El Niño could be the strongest in living memory. Scientists say it's an unprecedented event that could push 2027 to the hottest year on record.
Good grief: Rain to stop in time for weekend as sun returns
Rain should ease on Friday with sunshine returning for the weekend. Expect chilly nights ahead. Ben Rich explains the forecast.
Damn it: UK marks first national day for terrorism victims and survivors
The UK observes its first national day for victims and survivors of terrorism on Friday. The day aims to honour those affected and raise awareness for their experiences. For one survivor, the occasion carries personal significance beyond what many others feel.