Morning Briefing: Thursday 6 August 2026
- Petrol: Oil is holding around $80 a barrel, near its lowest in weeks, with the Iran standoff still easing. Petrol prices should keep drifting lower in the coming weeks.
- Mortgages: Government borrowing costs are steady and investors are betting on interest-rate cuts, which could gradually ease pressure on mortgage rates. Share prices are near record highs.
- Food: The drought is set to make vegetables smaller and dearer, and the harvest is heading for a record low, keeping food prices under pressure even as fuel costs ease.
Hormuz Deal Nears but the Strait Stays Shut
Iran said a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was in its “final stages” on Thursday, after it and Oman agreed the coordinates for a shipping route, but the waterway remained closed and no agreement had been signed. Tehran stressed that e…
Israel-Lebanon Talks Collapse Amid Fresh Strikes
The US-brokered talks between Israel and Lebanon in Rome collapsed on Thursday, cut short amid a fresh eruption of violence along the border. Israel launched air strikes into southern Lebanon after a roadside bomb killed two of its reservi…
Six Killed in Overnight Russian Strikes on Ukraine
Russian strikes killed at least six people across Ukraine overnight, three in the Kharkiv region and three in Sumy, officials said, in the latest wave of a relentless bombardment. It followed one of the deadliest attacks on Kyiv in months…
Arab States Accuse Israel of Wrecking Gaza Plan
Three Arab states — the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Saudi Arabia — accused Israel of undermining President Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza, after Mr Netanyahu said Israel had not agreed to its terms for disarming Hamas. The Israel…
Nigeria Frees 308 Abducted in Mass Rescue
Nigeria’s president said security forces had freed 308 people held by kidnappers in a single coordinated operation, hailing it as the country’s largest such rescue. Those released had been seized in a wave of mass abductions that has terro…
UK Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Russia
Britain announced a fresh round of sanctions against Russia on Thursday, targeting banks and vessels in its “shadow fleet” used to evade existing measures and keep its oil flowing. The government said the new listings, which include severa…
Government Plans Walk-In Mental Health Centres
The government has announced plans for more than 150 walk-in mental-health centres in high-street locations, offering early support to people in crisis without an appointment. Backed by an investment of around £343m and opening from the au…
New Rules Reshape £90bn of Public Contracts
New rules governing how the government awards contracts will reshape around £90bn of annual public spending, forcing bidders to show they will create jobs and skills. Under the changes, so-called social value will carry a minimum weighting…
Reform Repaid Tice Loan on Day of £1m Gift
Reform UK repaid a loan from its deputy leader, Richard Tice, on the same day it received a £1m donation, according to a report that raises fresh questions over the party’s finances. The donation came from the mother of a close associate o…
Four Stabbed Near Covent Garden, Suspect Held
A woman remained in custody on Thursday after four men were stabbed in an attack near Covent Garden in central London. All four were taken to hospital, and police said they were treating the incident as linked to mental illness rather than…