Evening Briefing: Wednesday 29 July 2026
- Petrol: The escalation of the US–Iran war sent oil surging around 7 per cent to near $90 a barrel — the highest in months. Expect petrol and diesel prices to climb; watch the pumps in the days ahead.
- Mortgages: The Bank of England decides on interest rates at noon tomorrow. Gilt yields jumped to around 5.04 per cent and lenders including Santander and Halifax have raised mortgage rates — borrowing costs are set to stay high.
- Water: Drought has been declared across half of England, with hosepipe bans affecting more than 23 million people. Use water sparingly, and take care in the 35C heat — especially elderly or vulnerable neighbours.
Trump Vows to Hit Iran Hard as US Strikes Iraqi Militias
President Trump vowed to hit Iran “hard” after Iranian forces again fired missiles at American troops in Jordan, as the war that reignited overnight widened through the day. US and Saudi warplanes struck Iran-aligned militias in Iraq, and…
Drone Strikes a Tanker at an Egyptian Port
A drone struck a gas tanker at Egypt’s Damietta port on Wednesday, in a sign the Middle East conflict is spreading to the eastern Mediterranean. The vessel, reported to be US-owned, was hit as it sat at the terminal; the maritime-security…
Ukraine Strikes Russian Refineries and Industrial Sites
Ukraine struck deep inside Russia on Wednesday, saying it had hit two major oil refineries, as fires broke out at industrial plants following a wave of drone attacks. Russian reports said a warehouse complex in the Ryazan region was evacua…
Japan Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 18
The death toll from the powerful earthquake in southern Japan rose to at least eighteen on Wednesday, with several people still missing. Rescuers continued to search a collapsed shopping mall and a paper factory in Kumamoto prefecture, pul…
Deadly Wildfires Sweep Across Southern Europe
Wildfires driven by a punishing heatwave are burning across southern Europe, killing two firefighters on the Greek island of Crete and forcing evacuations in France, Spain and Turkey. A blaze in south-western France was reported to have gr…
Burnham Will Not Rule Out Tax Rises for Social Care
Andy Burnham refused to rule out tax rises to pay for an overhaul of adult social care, as he set out a three-point plan he said would end a system “as unfair as American healthcare”. The Prime Minister warned of “difficult decisions” ahea…
Cyber-Attack Steals 607,000 Records from Education Department
Hackers stole roughly 607,000 records from the Department for Education, with sensitive data appearing on the dark web, it emerged on Wednesday. Reports said the haul included teachers’ names and phone numbers, raising fresh concerns about…
Drought Declared Across More Than Half of England
Drought was declared across more than half of England on Wednesday, after a run of heatwaves left rivers and reservoirs depleted. The Environment Agency’s move paves the way for tighter water restrictions, with more than 23 million people…
Heatwave Peaks at 35C Amid Severe Wildfire Warnings
Britain sweltered through the peak of its fourth heatwave on Wednesday, with temperatures reaching around 35C under amber heat-health alerts across much of England. Fire chiefs warned of a “severe” wildfire risk after more than 200 blazes…
UK Lending Surges to Fastest Since 2018 Before Rate Call
British consumers borrowed at the fastest pace since 2018 last month, Bank of England figures showed, on the eve of a knife-edge decision on interest rates. Mortgage approvals also beat forecasts, even as lenders including Santander and Ha…