Evening Briefing: Sunday 12 July 2026
- Petrol & Energy: Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz — a fifth of the world’s oil — closed, and prices are set to jump when markets reopen on Monday. Expect renewed pressure on pump prices and energy bills; the recent easing is firmly over.
- A New Prime Minister This Month: Andy Burnham is set to be declared Labour leader on 17 July and Prime Minister around 20 July. The outgoing chancellor has warned he faces “shocks and challenges” from day one — a signal of the hard choices ahead for household budgets.
- Heat, Fire & Water: The heat runs into midweek with the wildfire risk “exceptional” — a major incident was declared in North Wales — and hosepipe bans are widening. Avoid open water, ditch disposable barbecues, save water, and check on the vulnerable.
US Strikes Iran a Third Time as a Hormuz Standoff Hardens
The interim ceasefire has collapsed entirely. US Central Command said it struck about 140 Iranian targets overnight, a third round in a week and more than 300 in total, after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and set a container sh…
Iran Attacks Five Gulf States and US Bases Across the Region
Iran fired coordinated missile and drone barrages at five Gulf states overnight and into Sunday — Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman — along with the American bases they host. Qatar said it intercepted missiles aimed…
UN Warns of “Catastrophe” as Allies Refuse to Help Reopen Hormuz
The escalation drew alarm and division across the world’s capitals. The UN secretary-general, António Guterres, warned of “catastrophic consequences” for the global economy and the region, and urged an immediate return to talks. Crucially,…
Russian Barrage Kills Eight in Ukraine as Sumy Is Struck
Russia launched another mass overnight attack on Ukraine — ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 120 drones — killing at least eight people. Glide bombs struck a crowded part of Sumy, killing five, while two died in Odesa and a rescu…
Israeli Strikes Kill Five in Gaza, Including a Nine-Year-Old
Israeli strikes killed at least five Palestinians across Gaza on Sunday, including a nine-year-old girl killed by gunfire at a displacement camp and four people in a drone strike on a workshop in Gaza City. The near-daily killings continue…
Reeves Warns Burnham to Expect “Shocks and Challenges” in No 10
The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has warned Andy Burnham to arrive in Downing Street with a “worked-through plan”, cautioning in what may be her last major interview in the role that “lots of challenges and shocks will come his way”. Speakin…
“Exceptional” Wildfire Risk as North Wales Declares a Major Incident
The heatwave’s danger turned acute on Sunday as a large wildfire on Conwy Mountain, near Sychnant Pass in North Wales, prompted emergency services to declare a major incident and evacuate the village of Capelulo. The fire is one of many ac…
UK Braces for Higher Fuel and Energy as Hormuz Closure Bites
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has put Britain on notice for a fresh squeeze on fuel and energy prices, with oil expected to spike when markets reopen on Monday. As a net energy importer, the UK feels a Gulf shock quickly, through pet…
Clacton By-Election Set for 13 August as Rivals Boycott Farage
The by-election triggered by Nigel Farage in Clacton has been set for Thursday 13 August, and his main rivals are refusing to contest it: Labour, the Conservatives and the Greens have all confirmed they will not stand. The Greens called it…
Hosepipe Bans Widen as Drought Risk Grows
Restrictions on water use spread further this weekend as the dry, hot summer raised the risk of formal drought declarations in parts of England. Cambridge Water imposed a hosepipe ban on its 350,000 customers for the first time in around t…