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·18 August 2026 · 00:08 UTCBreaking

Trump defends scaling back military exercises with South Korea, citing costs and 'great respect' from Kim Jong Un; Sen. Reed criticizes decision

Trump stated that the military exercises are costly and 'send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile' to North Korea. Meanwhile, North Korea condemned the planned exercises as 'a rehearsal for an aggressive war,' raising concerns about regional stability.

Yesterday

·17 August 2026 · 22:50 UTC

Rescuers search for survivors after Indonesia's 7.7-magnitude quake; death toll reaches at least 68 as aid efforts ramp up

The earthquake caused extensive damage in East Nusa Tenggara, affecting over 4,500 homes and numerous health facilities and schools. In response, the Indonesian government deployed more than 1,800 military and police personnel to distribute over 100 metric tons of aid to the affected areas.

+3 sources4 updates

17 August 2026 · 16:21 UTCThousands in Indonesia await aid after Flores quake kills 68, injures 200, overshadowing Independence Day 17 August 2026 · 14:54 UTCPope Leo XIV expresses closeness to Indonesia earthquake victims; 7.7-magnitude quake kills at least 53, displaces over 5,000 +1 more report

·17 August 2026 · 21:41 UTC

Trump's bombing threats raise ethical concerns due to financial interests in Oman golf course deal

In 2024, Trump is set to earn $1 million in licensing fees from his Oman project, where he has already earned $6.8 million before construction. Overall, he has made around $35 million from licensing projects in the Middle East, primarily through partnerships with Dar Global.

+2 sources·17 August 2026 · 21:10 UTC

Trump criticizes Shannon Bream for using outdated photos; calls her show 'beyond redemption' and biased against MAGA

Trump's discontent stems from Bream's use of old footage to discuss his ballroom renovation, which he argues is crucial for national security. He also claimed that her show fails to highlight the successes of his administration, including progress on border control and military operations.

+1 source·17 August 2026 · 21:10 UTC

Loui Ridi returns to Qusra to defend his home besieged by Israeli settlers amid rising violence in the West Bank.

The U.N. reports that around 15 Palestinians, including children, are trapped in homes in Qusra without basic utilities due to the siege. Israeli soldiers have been deployed to the area to maintain order, as tensions escalate with settlers ramping up attacks on Palestinian properties.

+1 source·17 August 2026 · 19:10 UTC

Benjamin Netanyahu and Jared Kushner agree Gaza demilitarization should start with Hamas weapons handover supervised by U.S. general

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jared Kushner also agreed that reconstruction of Gaza should not begin until Hamas is disarmed, emphasizing the need for prompt disarmament. A Board of Peace official confirmed that the U.S. and Israel have settled on a demilitarized Hamas as the 'end state' of their discussions.

+1 source·17 August 2026 · 19:10 UTC

US-Iran memorandum of understanding expires as Trump escalates rhetoric and prepares unprecedented economic pressure campaign

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned of measures that would be unprecedented in the history of economic isolation, with Iran's economy projected to contract by 5.4%. Meanwhile, consumer prices in Iran surged 87.9% year-over-year, with food prices up 128%, highlighting the severe economic impact of the stalled negotiations.

·17 August 2026 · 18:31 UTC

Police investigate death of actress Hayden Panettiere; autopsy shows no signs of trauma as cause remains pending

An autopsy completed by the Greenville County Coroner's Office found no signs of trauma contributing to Hayden Panettiere's death. Authorities stated that the official cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies.

+3 sources3 updates

17 August 2026 · 17:32 UTCHayden Panettiere, Heroes and Nashville actress, dies at 36; 911 dispatch audio reveals overdose possibility 17 August 2026 · 05:42 UTCActress Hayden Panettiere dies at 36; family asks for privacy as they process 'unimaginable loss'

+1 source·17 August 2026 · 17:07 UTC

Asian refiners ask to pick up Saudi oil outside risky Red Sea; Aramco offers crude outside Hormuz via private talks, ship-to-ship transfers

Aramco has diverted Arab Light to Yanbu and offered it from Egypt's Sidi Kerir, while asking Japanese and South Korean refiners to collect from there. At least one refiner may skip its September allocation due to higher shipping costs around Africa.

+1 source·17 August 2026 · 17:07 UTC

Skeleton with 167 fractures found at Scottish castle may be first victim of Edward I's 'War Wolf' trebuchet; research suggests instantaneous death from high-velocity impact

The skeleton, dubbed Skeleton 150, sustained 61 skull fractures and 57 rib fractures, with a zigzag pattern matching modern road-traffic victims. Buckberry used micro-CT and 3D scanning to confirm the injuries occurred at death, not after, overturning earlier assumptions of postmortem damage.

·17 August 2026 · 17:01 UTC

Rain aids fight against Belgium's biggest wildfire on record, as blazes rip through Europe; fire still uncontained and threatening German border

The fire has burned 3,000 hectares, surpassing the 2011 blaze, and has penetrated deep peat bogs, potentially taking months to extinguish. Some 500 firefighters from Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg, plus EU aircraft, are battling the blaze, while prosecutors investigate its cause.

+1 source·17 August 2026 · 16:21 UTC

EU's Kallas says bloc will propose most far-reaching Russia sanctions this autumn, raising sanctioned entities by a third

The new listings, expected to target around 1,600 individuals and entities linked to the military-industrial complex, would include travel bans and asset freezes. The EEAS aims to present the list in early September for adoption in October, requiring unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states.

·17 August 2026 · 16:09 UTC

Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir calls for killing 30 to 40 people in Gaza every night: 'They're not even people'; Iran vows to record 'confessions' for reckoning

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded on X, saying these confessions must be preserved for the day of reckoning and trial of these criminals. The comment escalates regional tensions, with Iran framing Ben-Gvir's words as evidence for future prosecution.

+1 source·17 August 2026 · 16:09 UTC

American tourist dies after lightning strike on Mount Etna; hiker was in area closed to visitors due to volcanic activity

The 29-year-old was rescued by helicopter but declared dead at Cannizzaro Hospital; authorities have closed vast areas of the volcano's slope. Officials note more people have died on Etna from lightning strikes than from volcanic activity in recent decades.

·17 August 2026 · 15:01 UTC

Flooding ongoing across Indiana after deadly storms; water rescues, evacuations as White River expected to crest in Morgan County

Water levels in some areas reached levels not seen in over 100 years, and over 300,000 homes and businesses lost power. As of Monday, over 106,000 customers remained without power, mostly in Lake County, as crews raced to restore service.

+1 source·17 August 2026 · 12:02 UTC

Hayden Panettiere dies at 36; Melissa Barrera, David Arquette, Viola Davis and more pay tribute to 'amazing talent'

Tributes poured in from Selma Blair, who wrote 'I love you. Don't be gone. Please,' and Bethany Joy Lenz, who recalled Panettiere's 'astonishing' intelligence on the set of One Tree Hill. Her obituary notes her struggles with fame alongside her roles in Heroes and Nashville.

·17 August 2026 · 10:38 UTC

Tropical Storm Lala leaves 126,000 without power in Hawaii as flooding dangers linger; storm may regain hurricane status later this week

At least 100 homes were destroyed or lost, and hundreds of emergency responses included water rescues. The National Weather Service lifted warnings for Maui County and Oahu, leaving Kauai County under the only tropical storm warning, while Gov. Josh Green said one car crash death is under investigation.

·17 August 2026 · 09:06 UTC

Cambridge chancellor criticises 'racist feeding frenzy' around Jason Arday, who died after stepping down amid plagiarism row

Arday, who became Cambridge's youngest black professor in 2023, faced weeks of media coverage over plagiarism allegations. Over 30,000 people, including Diane Abbott and Jameela Jamil, signed a Good Law Project petition seeking an inquiry into coverage, which says his death followed 'two weeks of relentless harassment'.

+1 source·17 August 2026 · 07:58 UTC

Xi leads event marking Jiang Zemin's 100th birth anniversary; urges advancing socialism with Chinese characteristics

The gathering drew top officials including former Premier Wen Jiabao and ex-Vice President Wang Qishan, signaling their continued favor. Ahead of the event, state broadcaster aired a 12-part documentary, and the central bank plans commemorative coins bearing Jiang's image.