Morning Briefing: Saturday 8 August 2026
- Petrol: Oil ended the week firm near $83 a barrel, with the US tightening sanctions on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz still shut. Petrol prices are likely to hold rather than fall much for now.
- Savings: Gold sits at a fresh record and shares are near highs after a weak US jobs report fuelled bets on interest-rate cuts — a lift for many pensions, and a hint that borrowing costs may ease over time.
- Water: A fifth heatwave is forecast next week with temperatures up to 35C, and hosepipe bans are spreading. The drought continues to threaten crops and food prices.
US Hits Iran With Fresh Sanctions as Hormuz Stays Shut
The United States imposed a new round of sanctions on Iran’s banking system and companies, its eighth such package this year, as the Strait of Hormuz remained closed and a deal to reopen it stayed unsigned. Iran said it was still awaiting…
Russian Strikes Near Kyiv Kill a Child
Russian drone and missile strikes on the outskirts of Kyiv killed at least three people, including a child, overnight, Ukrainian officials said, with falling debris sparking fires. It was the latest in a relentless bombardment that has dri…
Houthi Strikes on Marib as UN Warns of Civil War
Fresh Houthi attacks struck the government-held Yemeni city of Marib, killing and wounding civilians, as the United Nations warned that Yemen risked sliding back into full-scale civil war. Yemen’s government said at least two civilians wer…
US Claims Israel-Lebanon Progress Despite Border Flare-Up
American mediators said they had made progress towards a mechanism to verify the disarmament of Hezbollah, even after a deadly flare-up along the Israel-Lebanon border this week. Lebanon separately pointed to “positive progress” on demarca…
UN Warns Sudan's War Threatens a Generation
The United Nations warned that Sudan’s civil war is threatening “an entire generation”, with more than eight million children pushed out of school and the great majority of educational facilities damaged or shut. The conflict between rival…
Burnham Signals U-Turn to Block Harper Killers' Release
Andy Burnham has signalled he is prepared to “explore every option” to stop the automatic early release of the men who killed PC Andrew Harper, in the clearest sign yet of a retreat under pressure. The prisoner-release row has become the f…
Labour Looks to Soften Net Zero and EV Targets
The government is looking to row back on some of its net zero targets, and could soften the timetable for banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, according to reports. Ministers are said to be weighing a review that cites “affordab…
Farage and Tice Sue the NCA Over Data Leak
Nigel Farage and Richard Tice, the leader and deputy leader of Reform UK, have launched High Court action against the National Crime Agency over an alleged leak of their confidential financial information. The pair accuse the agency of imp…
Crowd Tries to Storm Asylum House in Thetford Unrest
A crowd tried to force its way into a house believed to be housing asylum seekers during a third night of disorder in Thetford, Norfolk, and a police officer was bitten, with a woman arrested on suspicion of the assault. Around six people…
Fifth Heatwave Looms as Heat Alerts Return
Britain is bracing for its fifth heatwave of the year next week, with temperatures forecast to climb to around 35C and heat-health alerts coming into force. It follows a new hosepipe ban in the South West and the driest July on record, wit…