Morning Briefing: Sunday 2 August 2026
- Petrol: Oil may open the week lower after President Trump called off a threatened strike on Iran’s oil sites — though Iran disputes any deal, so the relief could prove short-lived. Petrol is already at its highest since the war began.
- Shopping: The Chancellor has promised to stop supermarkets and petrol retailers “ripping off” the public, and says more cost-of-living help is coming — though a tight Budget limits what he can quickly deliver.
- Water: July was the driest on record for England and Wales, half the country is in drought and hosepipe bans are likely to persist. Farmers warn food prices could rise.
Trump Calls Off Iran Strike but Tehran Denies a Deal
President Trump said he had called off the planned bombing of Iran’s energy sites, claiming he had been assured a deal was “imminent” that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the standoff over Iran’s nuclear programme. But Iran flatl…
Bombing at Moscow Restaurant Kills Three
An explosion tore through a restaurant in central Moscow, killing three people and wounding about twenty-one, Russian authorities said, describing it as a terrorist attack. No group claimed responsibility, and investigators had not named a…
Islamic Jihad Agrees to Disarm as Israel Strikes On
Palestinian Islamic Jihad has agreed to give up its weapons under President Trump’s Gaza plan, according to Arab media, joining Hamas in accepting a disarmament framework that Israel has yet to endorse. Even so, Israeli forces kept up thei…
All Ten Climbers Confirmed Dead on Broad Peak
All ten members of the expedition caught in an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak are now reported to have died, in one of the deadliest mountaineering disasters in years. They include the celebrated British-Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, wh…
Tourist Plane Crash in Peru Kills 13
A small tourist aircraft crashed in Peru, killing all thirteen people on board, officials said. The dead included eleven passengers and two crew members. The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and an investigation was under way.
Burnham Links Devolution to a Written Constitution
Andy Burnham has argued that his drive to hand power to England’s regions strengthens the case for Britain to adopt a written constitution, in the boldest statement yet of his governing philosophy. The Prime Minister, who this week promise…
Healey Vows to Stop Firms "Ripping Off" Shoppers
The Chancellor, John Healey, has promised to crack down on supermarkets and petrol retailers he accused of “ripping off” the public, pledging that he “will not allow” shoppers to be taken for a ride at the checkout and the pump. The messag…
July Confirmed Driest on Record as Drought Widens
July was the driest on record for England and Wales, forecasters said, after a summer of repeated heatwaves left the ground parched and reservoirs low. Around half of England is now in drought, and a fresh heat-health alert was issued for…
New AI Minister Says Public "Right to Worry"
The government’s newly appointed minister for artificial intelligence has said the public are “right to worry” about the technology, in a notably cautious opening message. The remarks acknowledged public anxiety over jobs, misinformation a…
Burnham Offers Spain Help Over Ceuta Crossings
Andy Burnham has offered Spain “what help we can” after tens of thousands of people breached the border into its North African enclave of Ceuta, in a crisis that has killed dozens. The gesture drew swift demands from opponents that the Pri…