Morning Briefing: Friday 31 July 2026
- Petrol: Oil has fallen back to the mid-$80s, well below its recent near-$90 peak, as markets bet the US–Iran confrontation will ease and producers pump more. That should bring some relief at the pumps.
- Mortgages: The Bank of England held rates at 3.75 per cent, gilt yields have eased and markets have calmed. Fixed mortgage costs may steady, though the Bank has warned it could still act if oil prices climb again.
- Water: Drought still covers more than half of England and hosepipe bans affect 23 million people, even as the heat fades. Keep using water sparingly.
US Strikes Iran Again as Tehran Vows Revenge
American forces struck Iran again overnight, in what Central Command called a “heavy wave” of attacks on Revolutionary Guard command centres and missile sites, after Tehran’s retaliation for earlier US strikes. Iran held funerals for Guard…
Trump Says Hamas Has Agreed to Disarm; Israel Objects
President Trump announced that Hamas had agreed to give up its weapons as the next phase of his plan to end the war in Gaza, hailing a “historic agreement” for the group’s complete disarmament. Israeli officials were sceptical, insisting H…
Japan Earthquake Toll Stands at 34 as Hopes Fade
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Ten Climbers Missing on Pakistan's Broad Peak
Ten climbers were missing on Broad Peak, one of Pakistan’s highest mountains, after an avalanche swept the slopes, mountaineering officials said. Among them was the renowned Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, celebrated for his record-breaking a…
US Investigates Suspected Iranian Cyberattack on Water
American authorities are investigating whether Iran was behind a cyberattack that struck more than thirty community water systems across Minnesota, officials said. The intrusion, if traced to Tehran, would mark an alarming opening of a dom…
Burnham to Give Mayors a Share of Income Tax
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Manchester Awaits Result in Vote to Replace Burnham
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Diane Abbott Readmitted to Labour After Suspension
Diane Abbott, the veteran Labour MP, has been readmitted to the party after a suspension, following a disciplinary process that ended with a formal warning. Joani Reid, another MP, had her membership restored at the same time. Ms Abbott’s…
England Faces Record Summer of Heat Deaths, Officials Warn
England could see its highest number of heat-related deaths on record this summer, health officials have warned, after a run of heatwaves that has stretched hospitals and emergency services. Officials estimated that the summer’s heat had a…
Burnham Rides an Early Wave of Popularity
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