Breaking news of Monday, 17 August 2026
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9 checks · 20 flash
- 23:31
Trump reportedly threatens Oman over channel with Tehran: news from a single source
On the day the Islamabad memorandum expires, Trump reportedly threatened to bomb Oman “without mercy” (transl. from Spanish) if Muscat interferes in the dialogue between Washington and Tehran over control of the Strait of Hormuz. This is reported by the EFE news agency’s information agenda for Monday, August 17, 2026, republished by Infobae. The news currently comes from a single source (EFE); no independent confirmation is available and the full text of the statement is not accessible. At 8:46 PM we had published the Iranian announcement of a partial agreement mediated precisely by Muscat.
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- 23:31
South Korea, Seoul confirms drills after Trump's order to scale them back
On Sunday Trump ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce U.S. participation in the Ulchi Freedom Shield, citing costs, Seoul’s refusal to take part in actions against Iran and its relationship with Kim Jong Un: “These exercises are not only expensive, but they send a totally inappropriate and hostile signal” (transl. from English, Defense News). On Monday South Korea’s defense ministry responded that the drills, scheduled to run until August 27, “are proceeding as planned” (transl. from English, NBC News). About 18,000 South Korean troops are involved. Washington has not clarified which activities will be cut.
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- 23:31
Belgorod, Russian authorities report eight civilians killed in twenty-four hours
Acting governor Aleksandr Šuvaev reported on Monday morning eight civilians killed and 23 wounded in twenty-four hours in Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s Belgorod region, in the districts of Valujki, Rakitnoe and Šebekino; six victims in the village of Kolosko alone, hit by a missile strike. The figure stems from a single source, the regional administration, cited by RT (Russian state broadcaster), Izvestija and Meduza, which notes that a local Telegram channel places the bombing on the evening of the 16th. No independent confirmation of the figures.
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- 22:59
Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo: 2,325 dead, deadliest epidemic in the country's history
Data from the Congolese government released on August 16 and reported by CNews indicate 2,325 deaths: the 17th Ebola epidemic in the DRC thus surpasses that of 2018-2020 (about 2,300 dead). The WHO update from three days earlier counted 4,665 confirmed cases and 2,184 deaths since the epidemic was declared on May 15; the strain is Bundibugyo, for which no vaccines or specific treatments exist. The UN has allocated a further 30.5 million dollars from the Cerf; emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher said that “Ebola is ahead in the Democratic Republic of Congo” (transl. from French, UN News). Tomorrow in Geneva, the WHO emergency committee (ANSA).
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- 22:59
Colombia, one week after the earthquake: 289 dead, 143 missing, rain hits shelters
Seven days after the August 10 earthquake in Chocó, the Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres reports 289 dead, 4,187 injured, 143 missing and 354 people rescued (El Heraldo). The Servicio Geológico Colombiano counted 325 aftershocks as of 7 a.m. on August 17, two of which above magnitude 4.0. A total of 127,557 homes have been reported damaged and 26,945 destroyed in 450 municipalities across 15 departments. On August 17, heavy rains over Pereira, Roldanillo and Buenaventura worsened conditions in shelters for displaced people; the Cancillería reports the arrival of 222.5 tonnes of international aid (Infobae). The magnitude is reported as 7.4 by Colombian outlets, 7.5 by CNN en Español.
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- 20:46
Tehran declares deadline expired, announces partial deal with Muscat
Iranian diplomacy spokesman Esmail Baghaei, in a press conference on Monday, accused Washington of violating the memorandum and stated that “the 60-day discussion is no longer relevant” (transl. from English). On talks with Oman, he reported an agreement on the map of the transit route through the Strait, specifying that the text of the final agreement is still being finalized. The conditions set by Tehran for reopening remain on the table: end of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and compensation for war damages. Sources: The Hill, ABC News.
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- 20:46
Gaza, Board of Peace after Netanyahu: no IDF withdrawal before disarmament
Following talks with the Israeli premier, the Washington-led Board of Peace — which includes Jared Kushner — announced there will be no repositioning of the Israeli army from Gaza until Hamas’s total disarmament and the demilitarization of the entire Strip: light and heavy weapons, tunnels included. Israel, according to the same statement, retains the right to act in the event of rearmament. The Board reports that Hamas has committed to complete disarmament and the immediate cessation of military activities. The statement follows the two-hour meeting in Egypt with Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya. Sources: CBS News, Just Security.
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- 19:00
Moscow claims downing of 205 Ukrainian drones over eight regions
The Russian Defense Ministry reported on the morning of August 17 that it had shot down 205 Ukrainian drones between the previous evening and dawn, over Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Volgograd, Kaluga, Kursk, Rostov, Crimea and the waters of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea (Argumenty i Fakty). Astrakhan Governor Igor Babushkin reported one civilian victim: “The targets were industrial enterprises and civilian sites in the region” (transl. from Russian, Fontanka). The pro-Russian administrations of Donetsk and Lugansk report a combined total of two dead and fourteen wounded (Moskva 24). Tolls from official Russian sources, not independently verifiable.
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- 19:00
Iran, official to Reuters: possible shift to offensive posture
Hours after the sixty-day deadline with Washington expired without an agreement, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday that Tehran could shift from a defensive to an offensive policy if diplomacy fails, pointing to an escalation in the Strait of Hormuz and the region. On the news, U.S. crude moved higher, around $83 a barrel (CNBC). According to Iranian and Arab sources cited by the Wall Street Journal, the Revolutionary Guards have tightened their control over the army, internal counterintelligence and missile and drone production (Just Security).
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- 19:00
Brent toward $89, 30-year U.S. Treasury yield at highest since 2007
Uncertain session on Wall Street: stocks and bonds fluctuate on fears of a widening conflict in the Middle East, following the S&P 500’s longest weekly winning streak since May. Brent rose to around $89 and the 30-year Treasury yield touched its highest level since 2007 (Bloomberg). At the open, Dow -0.3%, S&P 500 -0.1%, Nasdaq up fractionally; semiconductor stocks rise after Anthropic’s revenue jump (Yahoo Finance). Wednesday brings the FOMC minutes, with earnings from Walmart, Home Depot and Target due this week.
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- 13:01
Flores, magnitude 5.9 aftershock as displaced rise to 12,800
New magnitude 5.9 tremor at a depth of 10 kilometres on Monday, August 17, on the Indonesian island of Flores, struck on August 15 by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake: reported by the German geophysical centre GFZ (South China Morning Post). Displaced people unable to return to their homes have risen to 12,800 according to the national disaster agency BNPB (CBS News). The death toll, standing at 53 on Sunday, is put at at least 54 on Monday by the Jakarta Post. Over 900 houses destroyed and 450 damaged; searches under way in the regencies of Manggarai and Nagekeo (Al Jazeera).
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- 13:01
China, July slowdown: consumption +0.6%, investment -6.7%, data released after markets closed
China’s National Bureau of Statistics published July data on Monday: industrial output +4.5% year-on-year (down from +5.3% in June), retail sales +0.6% against an expected +1.5%, urban fixed asset investment -6.7% in the first seven months, urban unemployment at 5.2% (CNBC). All figures fell short of analysts’ estimates (Bloomberg). In detail: real estate -19.2%, infrastructure -3.6%, manufacturing -1.7%, high-tech +5.0%. The release took place at 3pm local time instead of the usual 10am, with Chinese markets closed (The Punch). The 2026 growth target is 4.5-5.0%.
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- 10:01
Etna, new explosive phase from the Voragine: red alert for aviation
The aviation alert level over Etna has returned to red following a new intense explosive phase from the Voragine crater, reported in the past few hours. The VONA color code, indicated in an update dated August 16 at 23:55, concerns the risk of volcanic ash dispersal along air routes: in recent days the volcano’s activity had already caused disruptions at Catania airport during the peak summer traffic period. The exact time of the latest INGV-Osservatorio Etneo bulletin cannot currently be independently verified. Sources: Sky TG24, TorreSette.
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- 10:01
Korea, Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises begin: eleven days until August 27
Joint maneuvers between the United States and South Korea began today: eleven days, until August 27, with 18,000 South Korean troops alongside the American contingent of 28,500 men. The program includes defense against drone attacks, GPS jamming and cyberattacks; the U.S. Eighth Army has announced a combined live-fire exercise and a river crossing. On August 14, a North Korean Foreign Affairs spokesperson, in a statement released by KCNA (North Korean state news agency), spoke of rehearsals for “war of aggression” (transl. from English) and announced a new level of deterrence. Sources: UPI, Korea Times, Al Jazeera.
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- 08:31
Shanghai, first Chinese humanoid robot maker lists on stock exchange: demand 8,000 times the offer
Unitree, the first humanoid robot manufacturer listed in mainland China, made its debut on the STAR Market in Shanghai: Radiocor’s 24Flash service reported the listing today. The offering, priced on August 6 at 150.80 yuan per share, involved 40.45 million shares, about 10% of the capital, raising 6.1 billion yuan and valuing the company at around 9 billion dollars. The retail tranche was oversubscribed 8,288 times, with an allotment rate of 0.018%: a record for the STAR Market. In 2025 revenues came close to 1.7 billion yuan. Confirmed data on the first session’s performance are not yet available (Sole 24 Ore, Reuters, CNBC).
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- 05:00
Golf, Scheffler wins the first playoff tournament in Memphis by eight strokes
Scottie Scheffler won during the Italian night the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the opening event of the PGA Tour playoffs: at TPC Southwind he finished at 17 under par, eight strokes ahead of Si Woo Kim. It is his 21st career win and is worth $3.6 million out of a $20 million purse (ESPN, Golf Channel). With the 750 points earned, his lead in the FedEx Cup exceeds one thousand points over Matt Fitzpatrick. The top 50 in the standings advance to the BMW Championship: Jordan Spieth, Max Homa, Shane Lowry and Brian Harman are left out.
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- 05:00
El Alamein, Kushner-al-Hayya talks conclude: Hamas asks Board of Peace to "compel" Israel
The meeting between Jared Kushner and Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya has concluded in Egypt, the first since October 2025, with Nickolay Mladenov, Tony Blair and mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey (CNN, Axios). In a subsequent statement, Hamas asked the Board of Peace to “compel the occupation to implement all its obligations” (transl. from English) of the first phase. According to an Arab diplomat cited by the Times of Israel, the movement is linking the start of disarmament to a public commitment from Netanyahu. Kushner is expected in Israel on Monday: on August 9 the prime minister had rejected the second-phase path.
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- 01:40
Iran-United States, 60-day deadline set in Islamabad expires without agreement
The 60-day deadline agreed by Washington and Tehran under the Islamabad memorandum expires Monday, August 17, without agreement or extension. The two sides do not even agree on what the deadline means: for the United States it marks the end of the ceasefire, for Iran the document concerned the end of the war. Foreign Minister Araghchi said Saturday there was “no 60-day ceasefire” (transl. from English) to extend. The Strait of Hormuz remains closed by Tehran, and the US naval blockade has been reinstated. Sources: The National, The New Arab, Daily News Egypt.
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- 01:40
Hawaii, Lala downgraded to tropical storm: over one hundred homes hit on the Big Island
After passing close by as a category 1 hurricane, Lala has weakened into a tropical storm. Governor Josh Green reported on Sunday that one hundred or more homes had been destroyed or damaged in the southern Big Island, along with numerous water rescues. No direct fatalities from the storm have been reported; a fatal traffic accident occurred on the island during its passage. Over 76 centimeters of rain fell, with peaks of 32 inches in La Poya. The advisory for the Big Island has been lifted, but remains in effect for the rest of the State. Sources: ABC News, CBS News, NBC News.
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- 01:40
Ceuta, Morocco stops new crossing attempt: 111 migrants arrested
Moroccan authorities have arrested 111 migrants heading toward Ceuta, two weeks after the wave that brought over 72,000 people into the Spanish enclave. According to Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, about 5,000 migrants remain in Ceuta, many sheltering under bamboo structures on El Trampolin beach: those who entered irregularly will not be allowed to stay or move to the mainland, except in rare cases of extreme vulnerability. Rabat has stepped up border controls and prevented groups of migrants from departing by train and bus from Casablanca, Fez and Kenitra. Sources: NBC News/Reuters, NPR.
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