Evening Briefing: Thursday 18 June 2026
- Iran: 12.5 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz overnight after the formal Trump-Iran signing — for you, this confirms the supply route is operational and locks in continued downward pressure on petrol prices.
- Markets: The Bank of England held rates at 3.75% with a 7-2 vote split; mortgage lenders are expected to cut rates in the coming weeks — for you, expect mortgage rate cuts to begin landing even before any August Bank Rate move.
- Politics: Makerfield polls close at 10pm with declaration expected early Friday morning — for you, a Burnham win could trigger a Labour leadership challenge against Starmer by Friday afternoon. Aberdeen South and Arbroath also vote today.
JD Vance: 12.5 Million Barrels Passed Through Strait of Hormuz Overnight After Formal Signing
US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that more than 12 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz overnight Wednesday into Thursday following the formal Trump-Iran-president signing. The throughput figure is the princip…
Iran Deal Detail: $300bn Reconstruction Plan, Uranium Dilution; Saudi-UAE-Qatar Financing Confirmed
The Trump-Iran-president formal signing details continue to emerge through Thursday. The $300 billion plan for Iran’s reconstruction is the structural Iran-side concession unlock; the financing architecture involves Saudi Arabia, Qatar and…
Ukraine Moscow Refinery Strike: Second This Week as G7 Sanctions Implementation Begins
Ukrainian drones hit the Moscow oil refinery for the second time this week Thursday morning. Kyiv cast the strike as a response to the G7 sanctions support announced Wednesday. The drone-strike volume on Moscow is the highest in any single…
Russia Summer Offensive Continues; Trump Attention Swings to Ukraine; Oreshnik Warning Stretches Active
Russian forces continued overnight long-range strikes against Ukraine through Thursday. The Institute for the Study of War maintains that Vladimir Putin’s decree expanding the Russian armed forces will not affect the battlefield situation.…
Gaza Death Toll Holds Above 73,000; Trump-Netanyahu Rift Continues Through Formal Signing Aftermath
The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas war confirmed at over 73,000 holds through Thursday evening, per Gaza’s Health Ministry. The formal Trump-Iran-president signing does not address Gaza explicitly. Egyptian mediators continue…
Bank of England Holds Rates at 3.75% With 7-2 Vote Split; Mortgage Cuts Expected in Coming Weeks
The Bank of England held its main interest rate at 3.75% on Thursday with a 7-2 MPC vote split. The hold is the BoE’s fourth consecutive following the start of the US-Iran war. The MPC cited the easing Iran-war-induced inflation pressures…
Makerfield, Aberdeen South and Arbroath All Vote Thursday: Polls Close 10pm, Counts Begin Tonight
Voters in three constituencies cast ballots Thursday in by-elections crucial to UK political alignment. Makerfield polls close at 10pm with declaration expected early Friday morning. Aberdeen South and the Arbroath and Broughty Ferry const…
Preston Davey Toddler Murder Sentencing: Whole-Life Order; Children’s Commissioner Calls It “Failure of the State”
The adoptive father of murdered toddler Preston Davey was handed a rare whole-life sentence Thursday, meaning he will die in prison. Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said the murder was “a failure of the state” that “shocked th…
Cambridgeshire Crocodile Zoo Attack: 3-Year-Old Critically Injured, Attempted Murder Probe
A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a 3-year-old boy was critically injured at a crocodile zoo enclosure in Cambridgeshire Thursday. The boy has been taken to hospital with serious injuries. The incid…
Starmer “Reckless” Russia Stance Holds; Healey Defence-Spending Split Frames the Leadership-Transition Question
Sir Keir Starmer’s “reckless” framing of the Tuesday Russian Navy frigate Channel warning-shot incident holds through Thursday evening. The Starmer-Healey defence-spending split — the PM contradicting his Defence Secretary’s calls for addi…