Weekly Roundup
The stories that defined this week View roundup
The Week In Numbers
- Brent crude spent the week whipsawing on the Strait of Hormuz. It opened around $83 after President Trump abruptly called off a strike on Iran, slid to a multi-week low near $79 on Tuesday as Washington signalled a deal “within days”, then jerked back above $85 when Tehran denied any agreement and a tanker was struck in the waterway. It settled near $83.40 by Friday’s close, the strait still shut and a Houthi drone strike on a Saudi refinery reviving the war premium over the weekend.
- Gold surged to a fresh record above $4,337 an ounce — up almost seven per cent on the week — after a weak US July jobs report fuelled bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts. The rally lifted equities too: the S&P 500 climbed to 7,748 and the FTSE 100 touched a high of 10,934 before easing to 10,901. Ten-year gilt yields drifted down to 4.93 per cent, sterling firmed to $1.35 and the VIX fell to 14.97, its calmest reading in weeks.
- Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a mutual-defence pact in Mecca on Friday, the most consequential Middle Eastern realignment in a generation, as a Pakistani minister branded Israel “illegitimate”. At home, July was confirmed as the driest on record; a fifth heatwave with temperatures towards the mid-30s was forecast, hosepipe bans widened, most of England’s rivers and lakes failed an ecological review and the harvest was said to be heading for a record low. Anti-migrant disorder that began in Thetford spread to further towns over the weekend.
What Moved Forward
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan Sign the “Mecca Pact”
GeopoliticalThe week’s defining event came on Friday, when Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a mutual-defence pact in Mecca, binding two of the Muslim world’s largest militaries to the Gulf’s wealthiest state and, in Islamabad, to a nuclear arsenal. A Pakistani minister marked the signing by declaring Israel “illegitimate”, though Turkey insisted the pact was not aimed at Iran. The agreement recasts a region already convulsed by the US–Iran war and the Hormuz blockade, offering Riyadh a security guarantee beyond Washington and giving Ankara its deepest foothold yet in Gulf affairs. Analysts called it the most significant realignment since the Abraham Accords — and one pointed squarely away from the American-led order.
Burnham Launches a Cost-of-Living Blitz and Hardens on Sentencing
DomesticAndy Burnham used the week to seize the domestic agenda, launching a cost-of-living tour with a promised crackdown on “rip-off” subscription traps and misleading discounts. Under fierce pressure over the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers, he also scaled back the prison early-release scheme, moved to bar serious sex offenders from it and ordered a review to keep grooming-gang convicts behind bars, before U-turning to back a public inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein’s UK links. Criticised for a holiday barely two weeks into office and still without a Commons seat, the Prime Minister nonetheless ended the week setting the pace rather than chasing it.
Gold Hits a Record as Weak US Jobs Data Lifts Markets
MarketsA soft American jobs report on Friday handed investors what they had waited for: firm evidence that the Federal Reserve will cut rates. Gold vaulted to a fresh record above $4,337 an ounce, the S&P 500 pushed towards new highs at 7,748 and the FTSE 100 held near 10,900. Ten-year gilt yields eased to 4.93 per cent and sterling firmed to $1.35 as the oil panic that had gripped earlier weeks receded. For British savers and pension-holders it was a rare stretch of good news; for mortgage-payers, the first real hint that borrowing costs may finally have peaked.
Washington and Westminster Tighten the Screws on Russia
GeopoliticalThe US Senate finally passed its long-stalled Russia sanctions bill, and Britain announced fresh measures of its own, as Ukraine carried the war deep into Russian territory with drone strikes on two oil refineries and munitions depots. The moves offered Kyiv a measure of diplomatic momentum after a punishing week of Russian barrages, including a strike that killed at least seventeen people in the capital. Whether tougher sanctions bite quickly enough to matter on the battlefield is another question — but after months of congressional paralysis, the legislative logjam in Washington has at last broken.
What Stalled
The Hormuz Deal Nobody Will Sign
GeopoliticalAll week the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz seemed hours away, and never came. Washington said a deal could land “within days”; Iran and Oman reached a framework; then Tehran added six fresh conditions, denied any direct talks with Washington, and a tanker was struck in the waterway. The United States answered with new sanctions, and the strait stayed shut. Trump veered from calling off a strike to threatening “decapitation” and back again. The result was a market whipsawed between $79 and $86 a barrel and a blockade no closer to lifting than when the week began — the defining stalemate of the Gulf war.
Israel’s Gaza Plan and the Lebanon Talks Unravel
GeopoliticalDirect Israel–Lebanon talks opened in Rome and promptly ground to a halt amid fresh strikes across southern Lebanon, with each flare-up threatening to end the process for good. In parallel, Benjamin Netanyahu sought to rewrite the American plan for Gaza, refusing to countenance a pullback or to disarm Hamas on Washington’s terms, while Arab states accused Israel of deliberately wrecking the framework. American officials claimed progress even as the ground shifted beneath them. After weeks of painstaking diplomacy, the region’s two live peace tracks both slid backwards, hostage to events neither Washington nor its mediators could control.
Russia’s War Grinds On as the Barrages Intensify
GeopoliticalFor all the new sanctions, the fighting only hardened. Russia launched what Kyiv called a record missile barrage early in the week and struck the capital repeatedly, killing at least seventeen in one night and a child in another near Kyiv. Ukraine hit back deep inside Russia, but President Zelensky’s denunciations of the civilian toll changed nothing on the ground. No ceasefire track is live, and no summit is scheduled. The war of attrition entered another grinding phase — the sanctions vote in Washington a signal of intent, not yet a shift in the balance of a conflict now well into its second year.
Reform Engulfed in a Week of Standards Rows
DomesticReform UK spent the week fending off questions about its own conduct. Deputy leader Richard Tice faced a standards investigation; the party was reported to have repaid a Tice loan on the very day it received a £1m gift; Tice and Nigel Farage launched legal action against the National Crime Agency over a data leak; and a firebomb inquiry at Farage’s home was reopened. A separate report accused a Reform backer of hiring a private detective to investigate a journalist. Farage’s plan to deploy the Royal Navy against small boats drew anger at home and abroad. Momentum, for once, ran against the insurgents.
What To Watch Next Week
Whether the Hormuz Standoff Breaks or Deepens
GeopoliticalThe week ends where it began: with the Strait of Hormuz shut, a tanker freshly struck, a Houthi drone strike on a Saudi refinery and new US sanctions on the table. Iran’s six conditions and its denial of any direct talks leave the blockade’s fate finely poised. A genuine reopening would send Brent back towards $75 and hand Burnham a cost-of-living dividend; a single further attack, or a resumed American strike, would drive crude back above $90 within a session. Watch the shipping lanes, the mediators’ language and whether Washington’s new sanctions harden Tehran’s stance or push it, at last, towards the table.
Britain’s Fifth Heatwave and a Deepening Drought
DomesticWith July confirmed as the driest on record, a fifth heatwave is forecast to push temperatures towards the mid-30s as hosepipe bans spread and drought is expected to be formally extended this week. Most of England’s rivers and lakes have failed an ecological review, and farmers warn the harvest is heading for a record low — a squeeze that will keep vegetable prices rising even as fuel costs ease. Watch for new heat-health alerts, fresh restrictions from water companies and the first hard numbers on crop yields. The environment, not the economy, may prove the summer’s most stubborn pressure on the new government.
The Asylum-Hotel Flashpoint and Public Order
DomesticDisorder that began in Thetford, running for successive nights with mounting arrests and a crowd attempting to storm a house used for asylum-seekers, has already spread to further towns. The unrest, coupled with Farage’s Navy plan and a returns deal that has sent back just four per cent of arrivals, keeps immigration at the centre of the political weather. Watch how far the protests travel over a hot August weekend, how Burnham’s government calibrates its response between enforcement and order, and whether the courts — having already ordered one migrant’s return from France — further complicate ministers’ room for manoeuvre.
The Realignment After the Mecca Pact
GeopoliticalFriday’s Saudi–Turkey–Pakistan defence pact will reverberate well beyond the region. Watch for the reactions of Washington, whose security umbrella it partly supplants; of Israel, branded “illegitimate” at the signing and already at war on multiple fronts; and of India, long wary of any Pakistani strategic windfall. The pact’s practical terms — whether it extends a nuclear guarantee to Riyadh, and how it meshes with the Hormuz crisis — will define whether it is a diplomatic gesture or a genuine new bloc. Either way, the Middle East’s balance of power looks different this weekend than it did last.
Morning Briefing
What It Means For You
- Petrol: Oil held steady around $84 a barrel despite a Houthi strike on a Saudi refinery over the weekend — markets judged it contained. Pump prices should hold rather than spike for now.
- Savings: Gold is sitting at a record and shares near highs, with investors betting on interest-rate cuts after a weak US jobs report — a lift for pensions, and a hint borrowing costs may ease over time.
- Water: A fifth heatwave is building, with temperatures forecast towards 36C and drought set to widen to more of England. Hosepipe bans are spreading and food prices remain under pressure.
GEO Geopolitical
Iran Hardens Terms as Trump Leans on Economic Pressure
Iran toughened its stance on the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, with a senior security official insisting the waterway “is not going to return to its pre-war condition” and that there was “no military solution”. President Trump said the United States was “semi-negotiating” and would rely on economic pressure and its naval blockade rather than fresh strikes. The strait remained shut, and oil held around $84 a barrel.
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White House Shrugs Off Netanyahu's Rejection of Gaza Plan
The White House said it was “not worried” that Benjamin Netanyahu had rejected President Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza, playing down the rift a day after the Israeli leader refused to withdraw until Hamas disarms. Mr Netanyahu said he could “stand up to” Mr Trump. Hamas, which had backed the plan, appealed directly to Washington to pressure Israel into implementing it.
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Houthi Barrage Kills Seven in Yemen's Mocha
A fresh Houthi missile and drone barrage struck the Red Sea port city of Mocha in Yemen, killing at least seven people, according to reports, in a renewed assault on positions held by the Saudi-aligned government. It followed the group’s strike on a Saudi oil refinery over the weekend. The casualty figure could not be independently verified.
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Turkey Debates Pardon Bill for Thousands of PKK Fighters
Turkey’s parliament opened debate on a bill offering pardon-like provisions to thousands of members of the Kurdish militant group the PKK, a potentially historic step in a fragile peace process. The legislation would ease the path for fighters to lay down their arms after decades of conflict. It follows moves by the group towards disarmament.
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India's Assam Floods Kill 100
The death toll from flooding in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam has risen to a hundred, officials said, after two more people died overnight. Vast areas remain under water and hundreds of thousands have been affected, with the region still in a state of emergency. Rescue and relief operations were continuing.
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UK UK Domestic Politics
Record 230 Migrants Cross Channel in One Boat
A record two hundred and thirty people crossed the English Channel in a single inflatable boat, the most ever recorded in one vessel, officials said. The overcrowded “mega-dinghy” underlined both the scale of the crossings and their dangers. The government condemned the smuggling gangs behind them.
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Protests Spread to Thetford as Bishop Condemns Disorder
Anti-migrant protests spread over the weekend to a former RAF base near Thetford in Norfolk that is earmarked for asylum accommodation, where crowds gathered and arrests were made. The Bishop of Thetford condemned the “indefensible” disorder. In Bristol, protesters and counter-protesters arrested at a demonstration were released.
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Wealth-Tax Row Grips Labour Before the Budget
A row over whether to impose a wealth tax on the richest has broken out inside Labour ahead of the autumn Budget, with allies of the Prime Minister pressing the idea and ministers resisting it. One minister insisted Andy Burnham’s spending plans were “funded by savings” rather than new taxes on wealth. The dispute lays bare the tensions over how to pay for the government’s promises.
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Fifth Heatwave Builds as Drought Set to Widen
Britain is bracing for its fifth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures forecast to climb towards 36C this week and drought expected to be extended to more of England. Heat-related disruption has already hit some rail services. It follows a record run of days above 30C and a spate of wildfires on tinder-dry ground.
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Burnham to Bring Forward Ban on "Subscription Traps"
Andy Burnham has said he will bring forward a ban on “subscription traps” — deals that are deliberately hard to cancel — and crack down on misleading discounts and fake sales, as he opened a national cost-of-living tour. The measures are billed as “everyday fixes” for household budgets. It is the Prime Minister’s first big domestic push since returning from holiday.
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Evening Briefing
What It Means For You
- Petrol: The Strait of Hormuz remains shut and Iran is holding firm on its terms, keeping oil near $83 a barrel. Petrol prices are unlikely to ease much while the standoff continues.
- Savings: Gold sits at a record and shares are near highs after a weak US jobs report raised hopes of interest-rate cuts — a lift for pensions, and a sign borrowing costs could ease in time.
- Water: The heat is breaking records and drought is set to be extended, with wildfires flaring and hosepipe bans spreading. The drought continues to threaten crops and food prices.
GEO Geopolitical
Netanyahu Rejects Trump-Backed Gaza Plan
Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the US-backed plan to end the war in Gaza, vowing that Israel will not withdraw its forces until Hamas is fully disarmed. The move opens a visible rift with President Trump, who had hailed the fifteen-point “Board of Peace” roadmap as a “historic agreement” for Hamas’s complete disarmament. Hamas had reportedly agreed to the plan, leaving Israel the outlier.
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Houthi Attacks Kill Several in Yemen Amid War Fears
Houthi attacks killed several people inside Yemen on Sunday, according to reports, as the government’s army warned of a “bloodier war” and the United Nations cautioned that the country risked sliding back into full-scale conflict. The violence followed the group’s strike on a Saudi Aramco refinery over the weekend. Casualty figures varied between sources and could not be independently verified.
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Hormuz Stays Shut as Iran Holds Firm on Terms
The Strait of Hormuz remained closed on Sunday with no deal signed between the United States and Iran, as Tehran repeated that it would not reopen the waterway until Washington “corrects its behaviour”. Iran said an arrangement with Oman to coordinate shipping was close but stressed that was not the same as reopening the strait. The United States said it still expected a deal.
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Syria Says It Has a Deal With Russia on Its Bases
Syria said it had reached an agreement with Moscow on the future of Russia’s military presence in the country, under which the Hmeimim airbase and the Tartus naval base would become joint “training and capacity-building” centres. The deal would preserve a foothold that Russia has held for years on the Mediterranean. It marks a notable step in relations between Damascus and Moscow.
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UAE Extradites Alleged Crime Boss Kinahan to Ireland
The United Arab Emirates has extradited Daniel Kinahan, the alleged head of an international drug-trafficking cartel, to Ireland, authorities said. The handover is a significant blow to a criminal network accused of orchestrating violence and drug-running across Europe. Mr Kinahan, long sought by police, had been living in Dubai.
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UK UK Domestic Politics
Nottinghamshire Declares Major Incident as Wildfires Spread
Nottinghamshire declared a major incident on Sunday as firefighters battled large woodland fires, including one near Mansfield, amid the tinder-dry conditions of the drought. The fire service said a wave of simultaneous call-outs had stretched its resources. It was among a spate of blazes across the country as another heatwave built.
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UK Sets Record for Hot Days as Drought Set to Widen
Britain has recorded its highest-ever number of days above 30C in a year, forecasters said, with thirty-five such days already logged and more extreme heat to come. Drought is expected to be formally extended to more of England this week as a fresh heatwave builds. In contrast, parts of Scotland were hit by intense rainfall, with half a month’s rain falling in two days.
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Foreign-Based Accounts Drove Asylum-Unrest Posts, Analysis Finds
Most of the social-media accounts stoking this weekend’s unrest over asylum accommodation were based outside the United Kingdom, an analysis found, pointing to foreign amplification of a domestic flashpoint. The finding followed disorder linked to protests in towns including Belfast and Southampton. It sharpens concern that outside actors are inflaming tensions over immigration.
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Labour Signals a Deeper Relationship With the EU
The government has signalled it wants a “deeper relationship” with the European Union under Andy Burnham, a minister indicated on Sunday, reviving the question of Britain’s ties with Brussels. The remarks come after reports that Mr Burnham was handed a plan to rejoin the single market, though the government has not adopted it. Any move towards closer alignment would be politically charged.
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UK Becomes a Bond-Market "Safe Haven", Boosting Burnham
Britain is increasingly being treated as a “safe haven” by bond investors, according to a report, handing Andy Burnham’s government an unexpected boost ahead of the autumn Budget. Demand for UK government debt has firmed even as other markets wobble. It offers the Chancellor a little more room as he prepares difficult decisions.
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Morning Briefing
What It Means For You
- Petrol: A Houthi drone strike set fire to a Saudi oil refinery, and the Strait of Hormuz remains shut, keeping oil near $83 a barrel. Petrol prices are unlikely to ease much while the standoff continues.
- Shopping: The Prime Minister is touring the country and is expected to unveil measures against “rip-off” subscription traps and misleading discounts — aimed at easing the squeeze on household budgets.
- Water: Drought is expected to be formally extended this week as a fifth heatwave builds, with temperatures forecast towards the mid-30s. Hosepipe bans are spreading and food prices remain under pressure.
GEO Geopolitical
Houthis Strike Saudi Aramco Refinery in Jizan
Yemen’s Houthis said they had struck a Saudi Aramco oil refinery at Jizan, in southern Saudi Arabia, with a drone overnight, and the Saudi energy ministry confirmed a fire at the facility that was later put out with no injuries. It marked a significant escalation — a direct hit on the kingdom’s oil infrastructure — amid the wider confrontation with Iran. The Houthis called the strike “precise”, a claim that could not be independently verified.
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Hormuz Stays Shut as Iran Denies Direct US Talks
Iran said it was not in direct negotiations with the United States and would not resume them until Washington ended what it called violations of an earlier understanding, with only messages passing through intermediaries. The Revolutionary Guard said the Strait of Hormuz would stay closed “until the enemy accepts all our conditions”. US Vice-President JD Vance said Iran had privately signalled it had “no plans” to charge tolls on shipping, a slight softening the two sides did not reconcile in public.
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Turkey Says Mecca Pact Is Not Aimed at Iran
Turkey sought to calm regional nerves on Sunday, insisting the mutual-defence pact it signed with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan was not directed at Iran. Ankara said the agreement, which treats an attack on one signatory as an attack on all, was purely defensive and open to other states. The clarification followed alarm over the pact’s reach and a Pakistani minister’s inflammatory remarks about Israel.
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Ukraine Denies Targeting Bulgaria After Drone Blast
Ukraine denied any responsibility after a drone exploded near gas-pipeline infrastructure in Bulgaria, an incident that had stoked fears of the war spilling onto NATO territory. Kyiv’s denial deepened the uncertainty over who was behind a spate of unexplained drone sightings across Europe. Bulgarian authorities said the blast caused no casualties.
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British Columbia Wildfires Force 20,000 to Flee
More than twenty thousand people have been forced from their homes as wildfires rage across the Canadian province of British Columbia, which has declared a state of emergency. Over a hundred fires were burning, nearly half of them out of control, fanned by hot, dry and windy conditions. Firefighters battled to protect communities as the flames spread.
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UK UK Domestic Politics
Burnham Launches Cost-of-Living Tour and "Rip-Off" Crackdown
Andy Burnham is launching a national tour to hear voters’ concerns about the cost of living, and is expected to unveil new measures targeting “rip-off” subscription traps and misleading discounts. It is the Prime Minister’s first big domestic initiative since returning from his summer holiday, and an attempt to show he is focused on household budgets. Ministers cast it as putting the squeeze on firms that exploit consumers.
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Asylum-Hotel Protests Spread to Another Town
The wave of protests around asylum accommodation spread to a fresh town over the weekend, the BBC reported, following nights of disorder in Thetford in which police officers were injured. The unrest, centred on hotels and buildings used to house asylum seekers, has revived memories of the violence that swept England last summer. Police have appealed for calm and warned that those involved in violence face prosecution.
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Burnham Handed a Plan to Rejoin the Single Market
Andy Burnham has been presented with a blueprint proposing that Britain rejoin the European single market, according to reports, reviving a debate the main parties have long avoided. The plan, drawn up by outside advocates rather than the government, sketches a route to far closer economic ties with the European Union. Downing Street has not adopted it, and any such move would be politically explosive.
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Badenoch Says Offenders Can Be Rehabilitated
The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, has argued that offenders “can be rehabilitated”, in an interview striking a more reformist note on crime and punishment. Her remarks come amid a bruising row over the government’s emergency prisoner early-release scheme. Mrs Badenoch has sought to sharpen the Tories’ message as they fight to win back voters from Reform UK.
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Drought to Be Extended as Fifth Heatwave Builds
Drought is expected to be formally extended to more of England this week as the country braces for its fifth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures forecast to climb towards the mid-30s. Forecasters warned that a long-standing heat record could be broken next week. It follows the driest July on record and a spread of hosepipe bans.
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Evening Briefing
What It Means For You
- Petrol: A tanker was struck in the Strait of Hormuz and the waterway remains shut, keeping oil elevated near $83 a barrel. Petrol prices are unlikely to fall much while the standoff drags on.
- Savings: Gold is at a record and shares near highs after a weak US jobs report raised hopes of interest-rate cuts — a lift for pensions, and a sign borrowing costs could ease over time.
- Water: A fifth heatwave is forecast next week with temperatures up to 36C and hosepipe bans spreading. The drought continues to threaten crops and food prices.
GEO Geopolitical
UAE Accuses Iran of Striking a Tanker in Hormuz
An oil tanker belonging to the United Arab Emirates’ state energy company was hit by a missile in the Strait of Hormuz in the early hours of Saturday, sparking a fire that was put out with no casualties. The UAE blamed Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, calling it “an act of piracy” and demanding the strait be reopened “fully and unconditionally”. Iran did not immediately respond to the accusation.
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Iran Sets Six Conditions to Reopen Hormuz
Iran laid out six conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, insisting the United States must first “correct its behaviour” — ending the war permanently, lifting its naval blockade and sanctions, withdrawing forces and paying war compensation. The foreign minister said an arrangement with Oman to manage shipping was “very close” but stressed it was “not a sign of the reopening” of the strait. A US official said Washington still expected a deal “soon”.
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Pakistan Minister Calls Israel "Illegitimate" After Pact
A day after signing a mutual-defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, Pakistan’s defence minister branded Israel “illegitimate” and called for a “united military front” of Muslim nations against it. The remarks were the first significant fallout from the Mecca agreement, which binds the three powers to treat an attack on one as an attack on all. Israel’s prime minister was reported to be weighing how to respond.
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Unexplained Drones Near NATO Sites Stoke Fears
A drone laden with explosives went off near a gas-pipeline compressor station in Bulgaria, and others were spotted over a military base and an airport in Germany, stirring fears of sabotage on NATO territory. Bulgaria’s president said a “significant amount of explosives” had detonated about a kilometre from the station, with no casualties. Responsibility for the incidents was disputed and unconfirmed.
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US Pledges $1bn to Colombia as New President Sworn In
The United States pledged around $1bn in security assistance to Colombia as its new right-wing president, Abelardo de la Espriella, was inaugurated. The aid, aimed at fighting drug trafficking and armed groups, signals warmer ties between Washington and Bogota under the new government. Mr de la Espriella has promised a tougher line on security.
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UK UK Domestic Politics
Navy Tracked Russian Warship That Opened Fire, MoD Says
The Royal Navy shadowed a Russian warship that fired its guns off the coasts of Britain and France, the Ministry of Defence revealed, as it disclosed a sharp rise in Russian naval activity in UK waters. Four Navy vessels spent 21 days in July tracking the frigate as it escorted sanctioned “shadow fleet” tankers, and watched it fire some fifty rounds outside territorial waters. Ministers said Russian activity in British waters was up by a quarter on last year.
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Firebomb Inquiry at Farage's Home Reopened
Detectives investigating the death of the former MP Ann Widdecombe have reopened an inquiry into an alleged arson attempt at Nigel Farage’s home, prompting the Reform UK leader to say he was “horrified” the two were being linked. Counter-terrorism officers are understood to be involved in the inquiry. Few details have been confirmed as the investigation proceeds.
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Police Step Up Response to Asylum-Hotel Protests
Police stepped up their response to a wave of protests around asylum accommodation this weekend, after nights of disorder in Thetford in which officers were injured. A specialist policing unit has referred more than a hundred social-media posts linked to the unrest to local forces, amid concern that online agitation is fuelling the trouble. Forces warned that those involved in violence would face prosecution.
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Khan Presses Burnham to Commit on Climate
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has urged the Prime Minister to recommit to climate action, warning against “climate denial” as the government signals a softening of its net zero targets. His intervention, in an article, adds to pressure from the green wing of Labour after reports that ministers may slow the switch to electric vehicles. It reflects growing unease on the left over the direction of energy policy.
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Reform Backer Accused of Hiring Detective on Reporter
The Reform UK donor Arron Banks commissioned private investigators to look into a Sunday Times journalist who had been reporting on the party, according to a report. The allegation adds to scrutiny of the tactics deployed around Britain’s insurgent right. Mr Banks has faced questions before over his methods and finances.
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Morning Briefing
What It Means For You
- Petrol: Oil ended the week firm near $83 a barrel, with the US tightening sanctions on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz still shut. Petrol prices are likely to hold rather than fall much for now.
- Savings: Gold sits at a fresh record and shares are near highs after a weak US jobs report fuelled bets on interest-rate cuts — a lift for many pensions, and a hint that borrowing costs may ease over time.
- Water: A fifth heatwave is forecast next week with temperatures up to 35C, and hosepipe bans are spreading. The drought continues to threaten crops and food prices.
GEO Geopolitical
US Hits Iran With Fresh Sanctions as Hormuz Stays Shut
The United States imposed a new round of sanctions on Iran’s banking system and companies, its eighth such package this year, as the Strait of Hormuz remained closed and a deal to reopen it stayed unsigned. Iran said it was still awaiting its top council’s approval of the arrangement brokered with Oman, and was reported to be drafting a law to bar American and Israeli ships from the waterway altogether. President Trump again insisted a deal “could be inked soon”, a claim Iran’s parliament speaker dismissed as “show diplomacy”.
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Russian Strikes Near Kyiv Kill a Child
Russian drone and missile strikes on the outskirts of Kyiv killed at least three people, including a child, overnight, Ukrainian officials said, with falling debris sparking fires. It was the latest in a relentless bombardment that has driven President Zelensky’s renewed pleas for more air defences. The attack came as US intelligence was reported to have warned that Vladimir Putin may take provocative action to test NATO’s resolve.
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Houthi Strikes on Marib as UN Warns of Civil War
Fresh Houthi attacks struck the government-held Yemeni city of Marib, killing and wounding civilians, as the United Nations warned that Yemen risked sliding back into full-scale civil war. Yemen’s government said at least two civilians were killed and fourteen wounded, while other accounts put the toll higher; the figures could not be independently verified. The assault is the latest in a Houthi offensive that has reignited the country’s decade-long conflict.
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US Claims Israel-Lebanon Progress Despite Border Flare-Up
American mediators said they had made progress towards a mechanism to verify the disarmament of Hezbollah, even after a deadly flare-up along the Israel-Lebanon border this week. Lebanon separately pointed to “positive progress” on demarcating the frontier and on prisoners. The optimism followed the collapse of earlier talks in Rome and Israeli strikes into southern Lebanon.
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UN Warns Sudan's War Threatens a Generation
The United Nations warned that Sudan’s civil war is threatening “an entire generation”, with more than eight million children pushed out of school and the great majority of educational facilities damaged or shut. The conflict between rival generals has created one of the world’s largest displacement crises. Aid agencies say the collapse of schooling risks scarring the country for decades.
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UK UK Domestic Politics
Burnham Signals U-Turn to Block Harper Killers' Release
Andy Burnham has signalled he is prepared to “explore every option” to stop the automatic early release of the men who killed PC Andrew Harper, in the clearest sign yet of a retreat under pressure. The prisoner-release row has become the first big test of his premiership, with the Police Federation threatening legal action and the Metropolitan Police chief publicly criticising the releases. Ministers had already tightened the scheme to exclude serious sexual offenders.
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Labour Looks to Soften Net Zero and EV Targets
The government is looking to row back on some of its net zero targets, and could soften the timetable for banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, according to reports. Ministers are said to be weighing a review that cites “affordability challenges” for households. The move would mark a significant shift in the pace of Britain’s transition to electric vehicles.
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Farage and Tice Sue the NCA Over Data Leak
Nigel Farage and Richard Tice, the leader and deputy leader of Reform UK, have launched High Court action against the National Crime Agency over an alleged leak of their confidential financial information. The pair accuse the agency of improperly disclosing banking data. The NCA has not commented in detail on the litigation.
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Crowd Tries to Storm Asylum House in Thetford Unrest
A crowd tried to force its way into a house believed to be housing asylum seekers during a third night of disorder in Thetford, Norfolk, and a police officer was bitten, with a woman arrested on suspicion of the assault. Around six people have now been arrested over three nights, and asylum seekers were again moved to safety. Norfolk Police said they had deployed significant resources and expected further arrests.
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Fifth Heatwave Looms as Heat Alerts Return
Britain is bracing for its fifth heatwave of the year next week, with temperatures forecast to climb to around 35C and heat-health alerts coming into force. It follows a new hosepipe ban in the South West and the driest July on record, with drought gripping much of the country. Forecasters warned of little rain to relieve the parched conditions.
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Evening Briefing
What It Means For You
- Mortgages: A weaker US jobs report has fuelled bets on interest-rate cuts, pulling government borrowing costs lower — which over time could ease pressure on mortgage rates.
- Savings: Gold surged to a fresh record and shares rose, a lift for many pensions and ISAs, while the pound strengthened. Oil ended the week firmer, near $83 a barrel.
- Water: A new hosepipe ban has been imposed in the South West and more heat is forecast next week, with the drought set to keep food prices under pressure.
GEO Geopolitical
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan Sign Defence Pact
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a mutual-defence agreement in Mecca on Friday, binding the three regional powers to treat an armed attack on any one of them as an attack on all. The “Mecca Joint Defence Agreement”, signed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Erdogan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was cast as a response to the turmoil of the Iran war. Officials insisted the pact was “purely defensive” and not aimed at any particular country.
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Hormuz Stays Shut as Oil Climbs and No Deal Signed
The Strait of Hormuz remained largely closed on Friday, with no signed deal between the United States and Iran despite days of talk of a breakthrough. Only a handful of commercial ships passed through the strait this week, a fraction of the usual traffic, and Iran insisted its emerging arrangement with Oman was a “new security model” rather than a reopening. Oil prices climbed, with Brent ending the week firmer near $83 a barrel.
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Battle for Marib Rages as Casualty Tolls Clash
Heavy fighting raged around the Yemeni city of Marib on Friday as Houthi forces pressed an assault on government troops, with wildly conflicting accounts of the death toll. Yemen’s health ministry reported at least five killed, while the Saudi-backed command put the number of dead soldiers at seventeen; a military source cited a far higher figure and the Houthis claimed “hundreds”. None of the tolls could be independently verified.
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US Senate Passes Long-Stalled Russia Sanctions Bill
The US Senate passed a long-delayed bill imposing sweeping new sanctions on Russia, and extending measures against Iran, after months of deadlock. The legislation, championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, would allow steep tariffs on the biggest buyers of Russian energy and target its banks and “shadow fleet”. It still requires the approval of the House of Representatives.
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Spanish-Led Raid Smashes Mediterranean Smuggling Network
A large multinational police operation led by Spain has broken up a major people-smuggling network operating across the Mediterranean, with 78 people arrested, authorities said. The raids targeted a ring accused of moving migrants to Europe by sea in dangerous conditions. It was one of the biggest such operations in the region this year.
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UK UK Domestic Politics
Sex Offender Convicted of Double Murder After Police Failures
A serial sex offender has been convicted of murdering two women in London and raping a third, in a case that has exposed grave failures by the police and prosecutors. Reporting on the trial found that a series of blunders had left a man known to be dangerous free to kill. The convictions renewed questions about how the justice system handles known offenders.
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Arrests and Charges as Thetford Disorder Continues
Police made further arrests and brought the first charge on Friday over the disorder around asylum accommodation in Thetford, Norfolk, which has run for three nights. Riot officers were deployed and asylum seekers were moved to safety again as crowds gathered. Officers injured earlier in the unrest, including one who was bitten, were said to be recovering.
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Water Nationalisation Would Cost £140bn, Burnham Warned
Taking England’s troubled water industry into public ownership would cost around £140bn, the government has been warned, according to a report on Friday. The figure, cited by analysts, underlines the scale of the bill Andy Burnham’s government would face if it heeded calls to nationalise the sector. Public anger at the water companies over sewage and bills has fuelled demands for their return to public hands.
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UK Admits Afghans Awaiting Relocation Are at Risk
The government has acknowledged that Afghans still waiting to be relocated to Britain remain at risk from the Taliban, in an admission that renews scrutiny of a troubled resettlement scheme. Thousands who worked with British forces or institutions are still stranded years after the fall of Kabul. Campaigners have long warned that delays are leaving vulnerable people exposed to reprisals.
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Hosepipe Ban in the South West as Heat Returns
A hosepipe ban has been imposed across the South West after a surge in demand strained supplies, as forecasters warned that scorching temperatures and a fresh risk of drought would return next week. It adds to restrictions already affecting tens of millions after the driest July on record. Water companies urged customers to conserve supplies.
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Morning Briefing
What It Means For You
- Petrol: Oil has steadied around $82 a barrel after this week’s swings, as Iran and Oman edge towards a deal over the Strait of Hormuz. Petrol prices are likely to hold rather than fall sharply for now.
- Savings: Gold has surged to fresh highs and shares are firmer, with investors betting on interest-rate cuts — a lift for many pensions, though the pound is a little weaker.
- Food: The drought is set to make vegetables smaller and dearer, and the harvest is heading for a record low, keeping food prices under pressure.
GEO Geopolitical
Iran and Oman Reach Hormuz Framework as US Holds Back
Iran and Oman have reached a temporary framework for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, under which vessels would enter on an Iranian-controlled route and leave on an Omani one, according to reports. The United States has yet to endorse it, saying it will only back a deal that involves no transit fees and no impediment to shipping. President Trump said the war could end “pretty soon” and a deal “could be inked soon”, though Iran stressed the arrangement was not a full reopening of the strait.
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Thailand School Shooting Kills at Least Six
A teenager shot dead his grandparents and then opened fire at a school in central Thailand, killing at least six more people and wounding over a dozen, police said. The attack, in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok, was carried out by a young man described by authorities as “troubled”. It was one of the deadliest mass shootings in the country in recent years.
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Yemen Fighting Toll Climbs Amid Fresh Houthi Strikes
The death toll from a Houthi assault on Yemeni government forces has climbed, with reports putting the number of troops killed as high as fifty-eight, in some of the deadliest fighting in the country in years. Fresh Houthi drone strikes on Friday killed several more soldiers near Marib. The tolls, drawn from the warring sides, could not be independently verified.
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Israeli Ministers Weigh Defying US Gaza Plan
Israeli ministers and security chiefs debated whether to defy President Trump’s plan for postwar Gaza, as the rift between the allies widened. The head of the Shin Bet security service was reported to have called Hamas’s agreement to the plan “a strategic ambush” designed to delay Israeli action. Mr Netanyahu has said Israel did not agree to the terms for disarming the group.
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Israeli Raid in the West Bank Injures Dozens
Israeli forces raided the area of Qalandiya, near Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank, injuring dozens of Palestinians and arresting many more, according to Palestinian reports. The operation came amid a sharp rise in military raids and settler violence across the territory. Residents described a heavy deployment and clashes.
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UK UK Domestic Politics
Burnham Orders Review to Block Grooming-Gang Releases
Andy Burnham has ordered an urgent review to stop members of grooming gangs from qualifying for early release from prison, personally intervening to close what officials called a loophole in the scheme. The move follows an outcry over which offenders remain eligible under the emergency policy to ease overcrowded jails. It comes as the Conservatives press to block the early release of the men who killed PC Andrew Harper.
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Tories Pledge to Bar Foreign Nationals from Social Housing
The Conservatives have pledged to bar foreign nationals from social housing, saying it would free up homes for British families. The plan, announced by the party leader, Kemi Badenoch, was swiftly condemned by critics as divisive and unworkable, with warnings it could hit Ukrainian refugees, NHS staff and settled families. Labour and other parties dismissed it as a gimmick.
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Thetford Disorder Enters Third Night With More Arrests
Disorder over the housing of asylum seekers entered a third night in Thetford, Norfolk, with further arrests and some asylum seekers moved to safety. The unrest followed attacks on properties earlier in the week in which a police officer was seriously injured. Police appealed for calm and warned that those involved would face prosecution.
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Illegal-Working Arrests Have Doubled in Two Years
Arrests for illegal working have doubled over the past two years, the Home Office said, pointing to a surge in enforcement raids across the country. Officials cast the figures as evidence of a crackdown on the black-market labour that draws people to make the Channel crossing. Raids have targeted businesses in several regions.
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Rail Disruption Hits North-West for a Second Day
Rail passengers across north-west England faced a second day of disruption on Friday after a power failure at a Manchester signalling centre threw services into chaos. Operators warned of continued cancellations and delays, with knock-on effects on routes to the Midlands and London. Engineers were still working to restore normal running.
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Evening Briefing
What It Means For You
- Petrol: The relief on oil has reversed — Brent jumped around 4 per cent to nearly $83 a barrel as the Iran deal stayed unsigned and fighting flared elsewhere. Petrol prices may not fall as much as hoped.
- Mortgages: Government borrowing costs edged up again, the 10-year gilt yield back near 4.95 per cent, as the oil rebound revived inflation worries. Fixed mortgage rates look set to stay high.
- Food: The drought is set to make vegetables smaller and dearer, and the harvest is heading for a record low, keeping food prices under pressure.
GEO Geopolitical
Hormuz Deal Still Unsigned as Trump Grows Frustrated
A deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remained unsigned on Thursday evening, and the strait stayed shut, despite what President Trump said had been “all-day” talks. Iran played down the prospect of a breakthrough, its state media casting the emerging arrangement as merely “new arrangements” for managing traffic rather than a full reopening, and insisting it was talking only to Oman, not Washington. Mr Trump was reported to be increasingly exasperated, and oil prices climbed back towards $83 a barrel as hopes of a swift deal cooled.
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Houthi Attack Kills Dozens in Yemen
Houthi fighters launched an assault on Yemeni government forces that killed at least thirty people, in some of the deadliest internal fighting in the country in years. The Houthis themselves claimed a higher toll of forty-five dead. The attack marked a sharp escalation in a conflict that has drawn in powers across the region.
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Ukraine Strikes Two Russian Oil Refineries
Ukraine struck two major Russian oil refineries with long-range weapons, President Zelensky said, pressing its campaign to hobble the industry that funds Moscow’s war. Russia’s defence ministry claimed it had shot down hundreds of Ukrainian drones in the exchange. The strikes came after one of the deadliest Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities in months.
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Israel Strikes South Lebanon as Talks Collapse
Israel struck the southern Lebanese town of Majdal Zoun on Thursday, killing at least one person and wounding a dozen, after the collapse of US-brokered talks between the two countries in Rome. Israel said it was responding to a violation of the ceasefire by Hezbollah, whose bomb had killed two of its reservists a day earlier. Prime Minister Netanyahu, meanwhile, reaffirmed his rejection of the US plan to disarm Hamas.
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Southern Europe Bakes in Record Heat
A severe heatwave gripped southern Europe on Thursday, with Italy placing all its major cities under its highest heat alert and Austria setting a new national temperature record. Authorities warned people to stay indoors during the hottest hours as temperatures soared. The heat has fuelled wildfires in France and disrupted travel across the continent.
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UK UK Domestic Politics
easyJet Agrees £5.7bn Takeover by US Firm
The budget airline easyJet has agreed to a takeover worth around £5.7bn by the American private-equity firm Apollo, which will take the carrier private. A rival bidder dropped out, leaving Apollo to seal one of the biggest British corporate deals of the year. It puts a household-name UK airline into American ownership.
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Trains Halted Across North-West England
Rail services across north-west England were thrown into chaos on Thursday after a power failure at a signalling centre in Manchester, with disruption spreading to the Midlands and services to London. Passengers faced cancellations and long delays through the afternoon as engineers worked to restore power. Operators warned of continued disruption into the evening.
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Homes Attacked in Anti-Migrant Disorder
Crowds attacked properties they believed were housing asylum seekers on Thursday, smashing windows in scenes of disorder that saw a police officer seriously injured. The officer was bitten during the trouble, and arrests were made. The unrest revived memories of the violence that flared around asylum accommodation last year.
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Government Won't Rule Out a Bank Tax Rise
The government has declined to rule out raising taxes on banks at its first Budget in the autumn, keeping the option on the table as the Chancellor hunts for revenue. Ministers would not be drawn on the levy that banks pay on top of corporation tax, fuelling speculation ahead of the statement in late October. No decision has been announced.
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Most of England's Rivers and Lakes Fail Review
A majority of England’s rivers and lakes have failed a new environmental assessment of their health, according to figures published on Thursday. Pollution from sewage, farming and industry has left waterways in poor ecological condition across much of the country. The findings add to mounting anger over the state of England’s water.
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Morning Briefing
What It Means For You
- Petrol: Oil is holding around $80 a barrel, near its lowest in weeks, with the Iran standoff still easing. Petrol prices should keep drifting lower in the coming weeks.
- Mortgages: Government borrowing costs are steady and investors are betting on interest-rate cuts, which could gradually ease pressure on mortgage rates. Share prices are near record highs.
- Food: The drought is set to make vegetables smaller and dearer, and the harvest is heading for a record low, keeping food prices under pressure even as fuel costs ease.
GEO Geopolitical
Hormuz Deal Nears but the Strait Stays Shut
Iran said a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was in its “final stages” on Thursday, after it and Oman agreed the coordinates for a shipping route, but the waterway remained closed and no agreement had been signed. Tehran stressed that even a deal would not by itself make the strait safe, and repeated its demand that the United States first lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Washington is insisting on “total freedom” of navigation, with no Iranian control or tolls.
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Israel-Lebanon Talks Collapse Amid Fresh Strikes
The US-brokered talks between Israel and Lebanon in Rome collapsed on Thursday, cut short amid a fresh eruption of violence along the border. Israel launched air strikes into southern Lebanon after a roadside bomb killed two of its reservists, and Lebanon said at least one person was killed and a dozen wounded in the retaliation. Washington blamed “events on the ground” for the breakdown.
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Six Killed in Overnight Russian Strikes on Ukraine
Russian strikes killed at least six people across Ukraine overnight, three in the Kharkiv region and three in Sumy, officials said, in the latest wave of a relentless bombardment. It followed one of the deadliest attacks on Kyiv in months a day earlier. Russia claimed to have shot down hundreds of Ukrainian drones as Kyiv presses its own strikes deep into Russian territory.
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Arab States Accuse Israel of Wrecking Gaza Plan
Three Arab states — the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Saudi Arabia — accused Israel of undermining President Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza, after Mr Netanyahu said Israel had not agreed to its terms for disarming Hamas. The Israeli military chief, meanwhile, visited Gaza and vowed the army would keep “operating proactively”. Hamas held a mass funeral for scores of people it said had been recovered from the rubble of an earlier strike.
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Nigeria Frees 308 Abducted in Mass Rescue
Nigeria’s president said security forces had freed 308 people held by kidnappers in a single coordinated operation, hailing it as the country’s largest such rescue. Those released had been seized in a wave of mass abductions that has terrorised parts of the country. The government cast the operation as a breakthrough in its fight against the kidnapping gangs.
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UK UK Domestic Politics
UK Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Russia
Britain announced a fresh round of sanctions against Russia on Thursday, targeting banks and vessels in its “shadow fleet” used to evade existing measures and keep its oil flowing. The government said the new listings, which include several Russian banks, were aimed at tightening the economic squeeze on Moscow’s war effort. It is the latest in a series of packages hitting sanctions-busting networks.
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Government Plans Walk-In Mental Health Centres
The government has announced plans for more than 150 walk-in mental-health centres in high-street locations, offering early support to people in crisis without an appointment. Backed by an investment of around £343m and opening from the autumn, the centres are intended to ease pressure on overstretched A&E departments and hospitals. Ministers cast the scheme as a shift towards earlier intervention.
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New Rules Reshape £90bn of Public Contracts
New rules governing how the government awards contracts will reshape around £90bn of annual public spending, forcing bidders to show they will create jobs and skills. Under the changes, so-called social value will carry a minimum weighting of a fifth in decisions on large central-government contracts. The shift builds on the government’s move to prioritise British jobs over environmental targets.
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Reform Repaid Tice Loan on Day of £1m Gift
Reform UK repaid a loan from its deputy leader, Richard Tice, on the same day it received a £1m donation, according to a report that raises fresh questions over the party’s finances. The donation came from the mother of a close associate of Nigel Farage. It adds to scrutiny of Reform’s funding as Mr Tice faces a separate parliamentary standards inquiry.
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Four Stabbed Near Covent Garden, Suspect Held
A woman remained in custody on Thursday after four men were stabbed in an attack near Covent Garden in central London. All four were taken to hospital, and police said they were treating the incident as linked to mental illness rather than terrorism. The attack, in one of the capital’s busiest districts, prompted a large emergency response.
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Evening Briefing
What It Means For You
- Petrol: Oil is holding below $80 a barrel, near its lowest in weeks, as the Iran standoff eases — welcome news for drivers, with petrol prices likely to start falling in the coming weeks.
- Mortgages: With oil cheaper and investors betting on interest-rate cuts, government borrowing costs stayed low — which could gradually ease the pressure on mortgage rates.
- Food: The drought is set to make vegetables smaller and dearer, and the harvest is heading for a record low, pushing food prices up even as fuel costs ease.
GEO Geopolitical
Hormuz Deal Stalls as Iran Adds Conditions
The deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remained unsigned into Wednesday evening, as Iran hardened its position and said it would not fully reopen the waterway until the United States lifted its naval blockade. Tehran and Oman were reported to be putting the final touches to a sixty-day arrangement to manage shipping, with vessels entering on Iranian coordinates and leaving on Omani ones. President Trump said an agreement “could happen — tomorrow or the next day”, while his secretary of state again said there was “no finality yet”.
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Deadly Flare-Up in South Lebanon as Talks Go On
A deadly flare-up hit southern Lebanon on Wednesday even as Israel and Lebanon held talks in Rome, with two Israeli soldiers killed by a bomb in a booby-trapped building and at least one Lebanese person killed in an Israeli air strike. Israel said it had carried out “precise strikes” in response to what it called a violation of the ceasefire by Hezbollah, and ordered residents of one area to leave. Lebanon’s health ministry said a dozen people were wounded in the strike on a prayer hall.
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Netanyahu Seeks to Rewrite US Gaza Plan
Benjamin Netanyahu pressed his objections to President Trump’s Gaza plan on Wednesday, saying Israel had not agreed to it and submitting amendments of his own. The Israeli leader again insisted his forces would not withdraw from their current positions until Hamas had fully disarmed, resisting the phased pullback the American framework envisages. A US envoy met him in Israel to discuss the next phase of the ceasefire.
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Imran Khan Jailed Three Years as Supporters Rally
Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister, Imran Khan, has now spent three years behind bars, a milestone his party marked with protests denouncing what it calls his “arbitrary detention”. Rights groups condemned his reported solitary confinement and the conditions of his imprisonment. Mr Khan, ousted in 2022, has been convicted in a series of cases his supporters say are politically motivated.
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Zelensky Decries Kyiv Toll as Strikes Go On
President Zelensky condemned Russia’s deadly overnight assault on Kyiv, which killed at least seventeen people, and released footage he said showed a Russian drone deliberately striking a civilian in the southern city of Kherson. He accused Russian forces of taking “pleasure in killing” and renewed his appeal to Western allies for more air defences. Ukraine said not one of the nearly thirty missiles fired overnight had been intercepted.
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UK UK Domestic Politics
Government U-Turns on Epstein Inquiry
The government appeared to backtrack on Wednesday over a possible public inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein’s activities in Britain, hours after two ministers had said it was “looking into” the idea. Downing Street said the Prime Minister was “not actively considering” an inquiry “for now”, and ruled one out for the time being. The mixed messages left campaigners frustrated.
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Single-Sex Spaces Code Comes into Force
New statutory guidance governing access to single-sex spaces such as toilets, changing rooms and refuges came into force on Wednesday, following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the legal definition of sex. The code sets out how services should apply the law when providing separate provision for men and women. It has been closely watched by campaigners on all sides of a bitter debate.
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Police Weigh Legal Action Over Harper Killers' Release
A senior police officer is considering joining legal action to block the early release of the men jailed over the death of PC Andrew Harper, as the row over the government’s prison scheme intensified. Harper’s own force publicly condemned the early-release policy, and the Police Federation has called the prospect of freeing his killers “unacceptable”. Ministers had tightened the scheme to exclude serious sexual offenders.
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Drought to Make Vegetables Smaller and Dearer
The drought gripping much of Britain will leave vegetables smaller and more expensive, growers have warned, as the driest summer in memory takes its toll on crops. With the harvest already heading for one of its worst on record, farmers say shoppers will feel the effect at the checkout. Concerns are mounting over the coming planting season too.
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Robotaxis Cleared to Operate in London
Driverless “robotaxis” have been granted a licence to operate in London, a significant step for self-driving technology in Britain. The move will allow autonomous vehicles to carry passengers in the capital, initially under close supervision. It marks one of the first such approvals in a major European city.
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Morning Briefing
What It Means For You
- Petrol: Oil is holding near its lowest in weeks, around $80 a barrel, as hopes of a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz persist. If it lasts, petrol prices should start easing in the coming weeks.
- Mortgages: Government borrowing costs have fallen for a third day, the 10-year gilt yield near 4.89 per cent, as cheaper oil calms inflation fears. That could gradually ease pressure on mortgage rates.
- Food: Britain’s harvest is heading for a record low after the drought, which could push food prices up even as fuel costs ease.
GEO Geopolitical
Russian Barrage on Kyiv Kills at Least 17
Russia launched one of its deadliest attacks on Kyiv in months overnight, killing at least seventeen people and wounding dozens, Ukrainian officials said. In a barrage of more than a hundred drones and nearly thirty missiles, Ukraine downed most of the drones but said it intercepted none of the missiles, which struck more than two dozen locations. President Zelensky said the main targets were civilian sites, among them a brewery, warehouses and a railway station.
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Hormuz Deal Still Unsigned as Markets Bet on Peace
A deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remained unsigned on Wednesday, with the United States insisting an agreement was close but Iran still denying it was in direct talks. The secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said progress had been made but there was “no finality yet”, while President Trump threatened to hit Iran “really hard” if the strait did not reopen soon. Financial markets, however, bet on peace: shares hit records around the world and oil held near its recent lows.
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Netanyahu Rejects US Plan to Disarm Hamas
Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had not agreed to President Trump’s plan for disarming Hamas, insisting his forces would not withdraw from their positions in Gaza until the group had fully given up its weapons. The comments deepened the rift over the sequencing at the heart of the American-backed framework. Mr Trump has claimed Israel is content with the plan.
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Fuego Volcano Spews Lava as Villages Flee
Guatemala’s Fuego volcano sent rivers of lava down its flanks as its eruption intensified, forcing the evacuation of villages in its path. Authorities kept a nationwide alert in place, warning that the volcano had entered a more explosive phase. No casualties had been reported.
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Drones Disrupt Flights at Major German Airport
Flights were disrupted at Leipzig/Halle airport, one of Europe’s biggest cargo hubs, after reports of drones and suspicious objects near the runway, German authorities said. Operations were briefly halted as police investigated. It was the latest in a series of drone scares to unsettle European airports.
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UK UK Domestic Politics
Government Drops Green Targets to Back British Jobs
The government is stripping back the rules on public-sector contracts so that they prioritise creating British jobs and skills over meeting environmental targets, ministers announced. The Deputy Prime Minister, Louise Haigh, in charge while Andy Burnham is on holiday, said public money should support work “in every postcode”. The shift marks an early flexing of the government’s growth agenda.
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Antisemitic Incidents Rise Sharply, Charity Warns
Reports of antisemitic incidents in Britain rose sharply in the first half of the year, up by around a fifth, according to a charity that monitors anti-Jewish hatred. The Community Security Trust said levels remained close to record highs, and pointed to a rise in violent assaults. One recent attack saw a Jewish couple set upon by a group of teenagers.
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Burnham Weighs Public Inquiry into Epstein's UK Links
The government is considering whether to hold a public inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein’s activities in Britain, a minister said. Andy Burnham is “looking into” the idea, the victims minister said, though no inquiry has yet been commissioned. Pressure has grown for a fuller accounting of the disgraced financier’s British connections.
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Pressure Mounts Over Release of Officer's Killers
The government came under mounting pressure over its prison early-release scheme after it emerged that the men jailed over the death of PC Andrew Harper could still qualify for release. The Police Federation called the prospect “unacceptable”, and police representatives signalled they could seek to challenge any release. Ministers had tightened the scheme to exclude serious sexual offenders.
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Drought Leaves UK Harvest Heading for Record Low
Britain’s harvest is on course for one of its worst on record after the driest July in memory and a summer of heatwaves left crops parched, farmers and analysts have warned. The shortfall could dent domestic food production and add to pressure on prices. Fields of cereals and vegetables have withered in the relentless heat and lack of rain.
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Evening Briefing
What It Means For You
- Petrol: Oil crashed again, to around $79 a barrel — its lowest in weeks — as the US signalled a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be near. If it holds, petrol prices should start to fall in the coming weeks.
- Mortgages: Cheaper oil pulled government borrowing costs lower, the 10-year gilt yield easing to about 4.90 per cent. That could, over time, take some pressure off mortgage rates.
- Water: July was the driest on record and water bans are widening, even as storms threaten flash floods rather than relief. Food prices remain at risk.
GEO Geopolitical
US Says a Hormuz Deal Could Come Within Days
The United States said a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be sealed within days, in a marked shift from the weekend’s threats of a strike on Iran. The Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said there was “a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow”, with hundreds of ships waiting to transit, while the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said progress had been made but “no final agreement” was reached. Iran again denied it was in direct talks with Washington, saying it was dealing only with Oman.
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Israel-Lebanon Talks Grind On in Rome
Rare direct talks between Israel and Lebanon continued in Rome on Tuesday without agreement, and were set to run until Thursday, as the two sides discussed their border, the disarming of Hezbollah and the pullback of Israeli troops. Lebanon’s prime minister, Nawaf Salam, sharply rebuked Hezbollah, accusing it of dragging the country into “futile war adventures” and calling for “a state with one army”. Hezbollah’s leader had branded the talks a source of “shame”.
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Gaza Peace Terms Shift as Strikes Continue
The terms of President Trump’s Gaza peace plan shifted again on Tuesday, with mediators now saying Israel would withdraw its forces only once Hamas had completed disarming — a move away from the earlier promise of parallel steps. Israel complained the plan had been negotiated without it, and an Israeli strike on Gaza City killed two people. Hamas, which backed only the original phased sequence, warned that the continued attacks were wrecking the process.
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Guatemala's Fuego Volcano Turns More Explosive
Guatemala’s Fuego volcano has entered a “more explosive phase”, hurling lava and ash nearly four miles into the sky and forcing the evacuation of villages nearby. The disaster agency issued a nationwide orange alert, its second-highest level, as the eruption intensified. No casualties had been reported.
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Shooting Kills Four in Russian-Held Crimea
A serviceman shot dead three civilians and a soldier and wounded four others in Russian-controlled Crimea, according to reports. The shooting, on the peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, prompted a security operation. The circumstances and motive were not immediately clear.
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UK UK Domestic Politics
Early-Release Scheme Scaled Back but Harper's Killers Eligible
The government formally scaled back its emergency prisoner early-release scheme on Tuesday, barring serious sexual offenders, but it emerged that the men jailed over the death of PC Andrew Harper could still qualify for release. The Police Federation called that “unacceptable”, and critics seized on the anomaly. Ministers introduced the scheme to relieve dangerously overcrowded jails.
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Burnham Under Fire for Holiday Two Weeks into Office
Andy Burnham has left for a summer holiday abroad just two weeks into his premiership, drawing criticism from opponents who accused him of taking a break amid mounting pressures on prisons and the borders. Downing Street insisted the government would “function as normal”, with the Deputy Prime Minister, Louise Haigh, in charge. The timing raised eyebrows across the political spectrum.
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Migrant Returns Deal Sends Back Just 4%
The government’s flagship “one in, one out” returns deal with France has sent back only about 4 per cent of the migrants who arrived, according to figures reported on Tuesday. The disclosure, a day after a court ordered one removal reversed, put fresh pressure on a scheme ministers have held up as a deterrent. Small-boat crossings have continued through the summer.
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Gatwick Second Runway Cleared as Challenge Fails
Gatwick airport will press ahead with a second runway after a legal challenge to the expansion was thrown out, clearing the way for one of Britain’s biggest infrastructure projects in years. The scheme, which would sharply increase the airport’s capacity, has been fiercely opposed by environmental and community groups. Backers say it will boost jobs and growth.
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Storms and Floods Warned as Heatwave Breaks
Forecasters warned of thunderstorms and flash flooding as the latest heatwave broke on Tuesday, with yellow storm warnings issued for parts of Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland and an amber heat-health alert still in force in the south. The rain, however, was expected largely to miss the driest southern regions, where the drought is worst. Farmers urged ministers to prioritise water for growing food.
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Morning Briefing
What It Means For You
- Petrol: The relief on oil proved brief — Brent has bounced back above $85 as Iran denied any deal and the US hardened its blockade, reviving the war premium. Petrol prices are unlikely to fall much after all.
- Mortgages: With oil rebounding, government borrowing costs ticked up again, the 10-year gilt yield near 4.99 per cent. Fixed mortgage rates look set to stay high.
- Water: July was the driest on record; hosepipe bans are widening and a drought order has been sought, even as storms threaten flash floods rather than relief. Food prices remain at risk.
GEO Geopolitical
Ship Hit in Hormuz as Trump Threatens "Decapitation"
A cargo ship was struck by an unknown projectile near the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz overnight, maritime authorities said, as President Trump sharply escalated his threats against Iran. Mr Trump said he wanted to give Tehran “every last chance before decapitation”, insisting a planned strike remained ready, and warned that nothing would pass through the strait “unless a deal, or total surrender, is accomplished”. American forces have turned back dozens of commercial vessels enforcing a blockade.
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Israel Hardens Gaza Terms as Strikes Continue
President Trump’s “Board of Peace” hardened its terms for Gaza on Tuesday, saying Israel would not withdraw its forces until Hamas had disarmed — a shift from earlier talk of simultaneous steps. A senior Israeli minister said the military would not halt its operations, and Palestinian officials reported seventeen killed in the latest strikes. Hamas warned that the continued bombardment was wrecking the peace plan.
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Israel and Lebanon Open Direct Talks in Rome
Israel and Lebanon opened a fresh round of rare direct talks in Rome on Tuesday, hosted at the US embassy, in an American-backed effort to ease tensions along their volatile border. Israeli military officers joined the delegation, and Lebanon pointed to its interception of rockets smuggled from Syria as proof it was enforcing disarmament. Hezbollah denounced the negotiations as a “shame”.
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Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Warehouses, Killing Five
Ukrainian long-range drones struck warehouses and logistics sites in Russia’s central regions overnight, killing at least five people, according to reports. The targets included facilities belonging to a major online retailer near Moscow. It was the latest in Kyiv’s campaign to carry the war deep into Russian territory.
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Venezuela Earthquake Toll Passes 6,000
The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Venezuela in June has passed six thousand, officials said, in one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country’s history. Thousands more were injured and many remain unaccounted for after the magnitude-7.2 quake and a strong aftershock. The scale of the devastation is still being counted weeks on.
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UK UK Domestic Politics
Burnham Bars Sex Offenders from Early Prison Release
Andy Burnham has tightened the government’s emergency prisoner early-release scheme to exclude serious sexual offenders, including rapists and child abusers, saying he “wanted to go further”. The changes mean roughly a thousand fewer inmates will qualify for early release. The scheme was introduced to relieve dangerously overcrowded jails.
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Driest July on Record as Water Bans Widen
July was the driest on record for England and Wales, the Met Office confirmed, calling the figures “truly exceptional” after a summer of relentless heat. Water companies moved to tighten restrictions, with Southern Water applying for a drought order and further hosepipe bans proposed. As the latest heatwave broke, forecasters warned of severe thunderstorms and flash flooding.
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Court Orders Return of Migrant Removed to France
A judge has ordered the government to bring back an alleged trafficking victim who was removed to France under its flagship “one in, one out” migrant returns scheme, in a fresh legal setback for the policy. The ruling raises questions about whether people are being properly screened before removal. Ministers have staked much on the returns deal as a deterrent to Channel crossings.
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150 Migrants Rescued After Channel Boat Fire
More than 150 migrants were rescued after a small boat caught fire while crossing the Channel on Tuesday morning, in a French-led operation. All those aboard were reported to have been brought to safety. The blaze underscored the dangers of the perilous crossing that has claimed many lives.
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Trump Calls UK "Bankrupt" and Urges North Sea Drilling
President Trump claimed the United Kingdom was “bankrupt” and pressed it to ramp up North Sea oil and gas drilling, even as he praised Andy Burnham as “terrific”. The remarks, characteristically blunt, waded into a live debate over Britain’s energy policy and public finances. Downing Street did not immediately respond.
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Evening Briefing
What It Means For You
- Petrol: Oil held its sharp fall, closing around $84 a barrel after the Iran strike was called off — a drop that should feed through to cheaper petrol in the coming weeks, though Iran denies any deal.
- Mortgages: Government borrowing costs stayed lower, with the 10-year gilt yield around 4.95 per cent, as cheaper oil eased inflation fears — which could ease pressure on mortgage rates over time.
- Heat: Temperatures neared 35C today under amber alerts, with thunderstorms forecast later in the week. The drought and heat continue to threaten crops and food prices.
GEO Geopolitical
Iran Says It Is Not Negotiating With Washington
Iran declared on Monday that it was not in any direct negotiations with the United States, flatly contradicting President Trump’s claim that talks would begin. A foreign-ministry spokesman said Iran was speaking only to Oman, about a possible “route” through the Strait of Hormuz, and that the waterway “will in no way” reopen as before. Mr Trump, in turn, branded Iran “unbelievably duplicitous” and said the blockade would stay until a deal or “total surrender”.
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Israel Rules Out Gaza Pullback as Peace Plan Wobbles
Israel said it would not pull its forces back from their current positions in Gaza, escalating its attacks and hardening its demands in a way that put President Trump’s peace plan under fresh strain. Far-right ministers pressed Mr Netanyahu to rescind approval for an international stabilisation force to enter the territory. Hamas, meanwhile, complained to mediators that the continued Israeli strikes were undermining the disarmament it had agreed in principle.
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Ukraine Reports Record Russian Missile Barrage
Russia fired a record number of missiles at Ukraine in July — more than 380 — Ukrainian officials said, as Kyiv warned of growing gaps in its air defences. The disclosure underlined the intensity of a long-range campaign that has battered Ukrainian cities through the summer. It came days after one Russian missile strayed into NATO member Poland.
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Record-Low Danube Threatens Eastern Europe's Power
Record-low water levels on the Danube are pushing several Eastern European countries towards an energy crunch, as the river’s dwindling flow cuts hydroelectric output and hampers the shipping of coal and fuel. The great waterway, a lifeline for the region’s economies, has been sapped by a summer of drought and heat. Governments are weighing emergency measures.
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Thousands Flee into Sudan After Border Clashes
Thousands of people have fled across the border into Sudan to escape deadly violence in the frontier region between Ethiopia and its northern Tigray area, aid agencies said. The influx adds to the strain on a country already gripped by its own devastating civil war. Those arriving described attacks and chaos in the areas they had fled.
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UK UK Domestic Politics
Farage's Navy Plan Draws Anger at Home and Abroad
Nigel Farage’s plan to deploy the Royal Navy to turn back Channel migrants drew sharp criticism at home and abroad on Monday, with France condemning the proposal and legal experts questioning its lawfulness. Paris hit out at the idea of returning migrants across the Channel, which would require French cooperation, while critics warned it could breach international law and endanger lives. Reform UK insisted the operation would be legal and effective.
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Apple Challenges UK Over Access to Encrypted Data
Apple has launched a legal challenge against the British government’s attempt to gain access to its users’ encrypted data, in a clash over privacy and security. The technology giant is contesting a government demand that it argues would undermine the encryption protecting hundreds of millions of people. Ministers say such powers are needed to fight crime and terrorism.
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UK Factory Output Picks Up as Tariff Fears Ease
British manufacturing grew at a faster pace last month, a closely watched survey showed, as the uncertainty over American tariffs that had weighed on industry began to lift. The improvement offered a rare piece of encouraging economic news for a government grappling with sluggish growth. Factories reported firmer orders and steadier confidence.
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Reform's Tice Faces Standards Investigation
The parliamentary standards watchdog has opened an investigation into Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, over an alleged failure to declare an interest. The inquiry, reported to be linked to a debate on Israel, landed on a day Reform had hoped to dominate with its plan to militarise the Channel. Mr Tice dismissed it as the product of an “antisemitic” complaint.
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Amber Alerts as Heat Nears 35C, Storms Loom
Amber heat-health alerts covered most of England on Monday as temperatures climbed towards 35C, with forecasters warning that thunderstorms could follow later in the week. The heat piled fresh strain on health services and transport, and came with a drought already gripping much of the country. Officials again urged people to take care in the sun.
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Morning Briefing
What It Means For You
- Petrol: Oil crashed more than 5 per cent to around $83 a barrel after President Trump called off a strike on Iran — welcome relief that should begin to ease petrol prices, though Iran denies any deal and the fall takes weeks to reach the pumps.
- Mortgages: Cheaper oil eased inflation fears, pulling the 10-year gilt yield down to about 4.95 per cent. Over time that could take some pressure off mortgage rates, after the Bank of England held them last week.
- Food: Farmers warn the record-dry summer and spreading drought could cause shortages and push up food prices — a squeeze that offsets some of the relief from cheaper oil, with 35C heat returning today.
GEO Geopolitical
Iran Denies Deal as Trump Announces Fresh Talks
President Trump said a fresh round of negotiations with Iran would begin on Monday, days after he called off a threatened strike, but Tehran again denied it was in any direct talks with Washington or had agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s foreign ministry said the strait “will remain unchanged” — that is, closed — and dismissed reports of a deal as inaccurate. Even so, the easing of the immediate threat of war sent oil prices tumbling.
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Israel Escalates Gaza Strikes, Threatening Peace Plan
Israel intensified its strikes on Gaza in open defiance of President Trump’s peace plan, with a senior minister insisting the attacks would not stop until Palestinian groups had truly disarmed. Hamas told mediators that the continued bombardment was undermining the very disarmament agreement under negotiation. The clash cast fresh doubt on whether the fragile framework can hold.
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Nationwide Blackout Plunges Cuba into Darkness
Cuba was plunged into a nationwide blackout after its ageing electricity grid collapsed, leaving the entire island of some ten million people without power. The failure followed a weekend of intermittent outages and came amid acute fuel shortages that have crippled the country’s power stations. Engineers were working to restore supply.
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British Woman's Body Found in Suitcase in Greece
Greek police have arrested a suspect after the body of a British woman was discovered inside a suitcase at an abandoned site. Investigators allege the man transported her remains in the luggage and then used her bank cards to withdraw money. The victim had not been formally named as inquiries continued.
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Wildfires Force 60,000 to Flee in Washington State
Wildfires around Spokane in Washington state have forced about 60,000 people to flee and destroyed hundreds of buildings, officials said, with some of the blazes still out of control. The fires have burned across a vast area amid hot, dry and windy conditions. Firefighters were struggling to contain the fastest-moving fronts.
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UK UK Domestic Politics
Farage Unveils Plan to Use the Navy Against Small Boats
Nigel Farage set out plans on Monday for a Reform UK government to deploy the Royal Navy and Royal Marines to intercept small boats crossing the Channel and turn migrants back to France. He billed it as the largest Channel military operation since the Second World War and claimed a Reform government could halt the crossings “within a fortnight”. Former naval officers and legal experts questioned whether the plan was lawful or workable.
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Reform Deputy Tice Faces Standards Investigation
The parliamentary standards watchdog has opened an investigation into Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, over an alleged failure to declare an interest. The inquiry, reported to be linked to a debate on Israel, was announced on Monday morning. Mr Tice dismissed it as the product of an “antisemitic” complaint.
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Amber Alerts as 35C Heat Returns to England
Amber heat-health alerts were issued across most of England on Monday as temperatures were forecast to climb back towards 35C, renewing the strain of a relentless summer. The warnings, covering London and much of the country for 48 hours, came with a drought already gripping half of England after the driest July on record. Health officials urged people to take care in the heat.
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Fuel Theft Surges as Petrol Prices Stay High
Almost £200,000 of fuel is being stolen from British petrol forecourts every day since the Iran war sent pump prices to their highest in years, according to industry figures reported on Monday. Drive-offs and other thefts have climbed as motorists face some of the steepest costs at the pump on record. Retailers say the losses are mounting.
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Burnham Pushes to "Rewire Britain" With Power Shift North
Andy Burnham pressed on with his drive to shift power out of London on Monday, opening a government hub in Manchester and floating the idea of a fresh King’s Speech to reset his priorities. The Prime Minister has cast his devolution agenda — handing regions a share of tax and more control — as a “rewiring” of the British state. Commentators have dubbed the approach his “Manchesterism”.