News for August 23, 2026
Damn it: Review into how pub and hotel business rates are calculated could lead to reform
A review into how business rates are calculated in England and Wales is under way. It could lead to reforms of the system. The focus includes pubs and hotels.
Damn it: Hundreds of NHS dental practices quit NHS care in England amid move to two-tier system.
Nearly 600 NHS dental practices in England have withdrawn from NHS care over the last decade. The trend accompanies the NHS dentistry service shifting toward a two-tier system. Access to NHS care now varies by location.
Damn it: Burnham to visit Kyiv on first foreign trip and reaffirm UK support for Ukraine
Burnham will travel to Kyiv for their first foreign trip to reaffirm the UK's support for Ukraine. Moscow has warned of consequences over Ukraine's reported use of British drones.
Damn it: Reform pledges to prioritise British-born young workers for social housing
Labour dismissed the plan as unserious and unworkable. The opposition said Reform was pushing gimmicks and division in housing policy.
Damn it: Families mourn two police officers killed in crash
Two police officers, Tom Clough and Matthew Blades, were killed in a crash that also claimed five other lives. The incident occurred when a car collided with their vehicle. Their families have paid tribute to them.
Damn it: CrossCountry aims for full service by Monday after major disruption
CrossCountry says restoring service to near-normal levels is its top priority. The operator expects a full service to resume on Monday after the disruption.
Trump attends high-speed IndyCar race on Washington streets
Damn it — Trump took a ceremonial lap around the track before the race. The lap capped a summer of events marking the United States' 250th birthday.
Damn it: Man arrested on suspicion of murder after fatal fire in Hounslow
A 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. The arrest follows a fatal fire in Hounslow.
Damn it: Federal judge strikes down visa pause for 75 countries
A federal judge ruled the indefinite visa pause violated anti-discrimination protections. The policy affected nationals from countries around the world. The ruling voids the pause and ends the policy.
Damn it: Newcastle and Liverpool pay tribute to legend Keegan
Newcastle and Liverpool paid tribute to their legendary player Keegan during the opening weekend of the Premier League season. The gestures linked the clubs to a shared history with the player. The tribute underscores Keegan's enduring legacy for both sides.
Damn it: Pence warns U.S.-Canada trade fight worsens affordability concerns
Former Vice President Mike Pence told CNN that the last thing the country needs is a trade war with Canada. He argued such a fight would worsen affordability as the economy gets back on its feet.
Seriously? ECB investigates Brydon Carse after nightclub incident
Damn it: The ECB is launching an investigation into a nightclub incident involving Brydon Carse. Online footage appears to show the England bowler being escorted from a nightclub in handcuffs.
Damn it: France links drownings to heatwaves
France links drownings to heatwaves, according to a government minister. The minister warned that people are taking risks by going into the water. There have been 301 deaths since 19 June.
Beijing opens second World Humanoid Games
The second edition of the five-day competition began in Beijing on Saturday. Beijing, China is hosting the event.
Damn it: New season, new trim — Haaland reveals buzzcut
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland revealed a buzz cut in a social media post. The haircut signals a new look for the forward.
Damn it: CrossCountry cancels nearly all UK services after power cut
CrossCountry has canceled virtually all UK services after a power cut. The disruption affects trains across the CrossCountry network. Customers described the outage as the worst-case scenario.
Damn it: U.S.-Canada trade breakdown shows limits of Trump's aggressive strategy
Analysts call the breakdown a setback for Trump's trade push with Canada. It shows real limits to his aggressive approach. Other nations unhappy with his deals are likely watching the situation closely.
Damn it: Robots kick off World Humanoid Games in Beijing
The second edition of the five-day World Humanoid Games began in Beijing, China, on Saturday. The event features robots competing in boxing, football and sprinting.
Damn it: Ex-defence minister says Zelensky must answer questions on corruption, calls for elections
A former defence minister who was dismissed says Zelensky must answer questions about corruption in his government. He also called for elections to be held in Ukraine.
Damn it: QR code scams trigger £60 monthly subscription after app download
QR codes are increasingly used by scammers to steal money and data. In one case, scammers set up a £60 monthly subscription on Les Howard's account after he downloaded an app.
Damn it: Police officers among seven killed in wrong-way A66 crash
PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough died in the crash, along with five teenagers. The victims were in a car that drove the wrong way on the A66 and struck a police vehicle. Tributes have poured in from colleagues and authorities as investigators review the incident.
Mayors to gain power to override local councils on planning decisions
Mayors will be given the power to override planning decisions made by local councils. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said the change is essential to help mayors deliver new homes.
Damn it: Cyber attack shuts down a small power plant
Government officials say a cyber attack in July targeted a small power plant. They insist there was no risk to the UK's energy system at any point during the incident.
Restriction zone scheme for offenders to start in October
Damn it, a restriction zone scheme is set to start in October. It would confine serious violent and sexual offenders to areas of just a few miles after leaving prison on probation.