Evening Briefing: Wednesday 15 July 2026
- Petrol & Energy: Oil is holding around $85 a barrel as the US naval blockade of Iran bites, and the RAC says pump prices — near 151p a litre for petrol — have started climbing again after weeks of falls. The wholesale gas price that sets energy bills is exposed to the same shock.
- A New Prime Minister on Monday: Sir Keir Starmer gave his farewell PMQs today. Andy Burnham is confirmed leader unopposed and takes office on Monday 20 July, with Shabana Mahmood reported as his likely Chancellor over Ed Miliband — a signal he intends to keep Labour’s fiscal discipline rather than break with it.
- Heat, Fire & Water: The heatwave peaks on Thursday and Friday, when parts of England could reach 35–36C under amber warnings, and hosepipe bans are spreading across the south and east. Save water, avoid disposable barbecues, and check on the elderly and unwell.
US Steps Up Strikes on Iran and Disables First Tanker Under the Blockade
American forces launched two fresh waves of strikes on Iran on Wednesday, hitting coastal-defence and missile sites and a military barracks, and for the first time since the naval blockade resumed they disabled a ship trying to run it. US…
Iran Widens Its Retaliation to the Gulf States
Iran pushed its response beyond the shipping lanes, aiming missiles and drones at US-linked sites across the Gulf and drawing Washington’s partners directly into the war. Kuwait and Jordan both said they had intercepted incoming missiles a…
Iran Threatens to Halt All Regional Energy Exports as Oil Holds Near $85
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard threatened to cut off energy exports from the entire region, not just its own: “The export of oil and gas from the region will be either for everyone or for no one.” Brent crude held around $85 a barrel — well ab…
Fire Grips Fontainebleau Forest as Spain’s Wildfire Toll Reaches 13
The wildfires driven by Europe’s third heatwave burned on across the continent. In the historic Fontainebleau forest south of Paris, blazes that have destroyed more than 2,000 hectares were described as contained but not extinguished, with…
Europe’s Air-Defence Coalition Takes Shape as Russia Strikes Kyiv
Ukraine and nine European states, Britain among them, are building a shared ballistic-missile defence for Europe, a coalition launched in Paris that will part-fund Ukraine’s home-grown “Freyja” interceptor as a low-cost rival to the Patrio…
Starmer Bids Farewell at His Final PMQs
Sir Keir Starmer took Prime Minister’s Questions for the last time at noon, days before handing power to Andy Burnham. He said he was “proud to leave this country in better shape than I found it”, described the moment as the end of his pol…
Burnham Confirmed as Leader-in-Waiting, PM on Monday
Andy Burnham has secured the Labour leadership unopposed, backed by the overwhelming majority of the party’s 403 MPs — well beyond the point at which any challenger could reach the threshold to stand. Nominations close on Thursday 16 July,…
Mahmood Tipped for Chancellor as Burnham’s Cabinet Takes Shape
Andy Burnham is reported to be set on naming the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, as his Chancellor, passing over the early favourite Ed Miliband, who is tipped instead for a possible move to the Foreign Office. His camp is said to be spli…
Counter-Terror Police Lead Widdecombe Murder Inquiry
The investigation into the killing of Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokesperson found dead with serious injuries at her home, has been taken over by Counter Terrorism Policing. A 28-year-old man arrested o…
Heatwave Nears Its Peak as Hosepipe Bans Widen
Southern England reached around 33C on Wednesday as Britain’s third heatwave of the year built towards its peak, with the Met Office forecasting 35 to 36C on Thursday and Friday and the UK Health Security Agency issuing amber and yellow he…