Morning Briefing: Tuesday 11 August 2026
- Petrol: Oil has surged for a second day, with Brent near $90 a barrel as the Strait of Hormuz stays shut. Petrol and diesel prices look set to climb in the coming weeks.
- Mortgages: The oil spike has revived inflation fears, pushing the 10-year gilt yield up to around 5.05 per cent. Fixed mortgage rates are likely to stay high.
- Water: Almost three-quarters of England is now officially in drought as a fifth heatwave builds towards 36C. Hosepipe bans are spreading and food prices are set to rise.
Colombia Earthquake Toll Rises to at Least 111
The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck western Colombia has risen to at least a hundred and eleven, officials said, with dozens of people still trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings. The magnitude-7.4 quake, centred…
Trump Claims Hormuz Open as Oil Surges to $90
President Trump claimed the United States controlled the Strait of Hormuz and that the vital waterway was open, and said Washington would seek compensation from Iran. But Tehran flatly disputed him, setting fresh conditions for any reopeni…
Netanyahu Rejects Gaza Plan as Trump Plays Down Rift
Benjamin Netanyahu held to his rejection of President Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza, insisting Israel would not withdraw until Hamas fully disarmed, even as Mr Trump played down any rift and said their relationship remained “good”. I…
China's Long March Rocket Explodes After Launch
A Chinese Long March 7A rocket exploded shortly after lifting off from the Wenchang launch site on the island of Hainan, officials said. The cause of the failure was not immediately clear, and no details were given on the payload it had be…
Israeli Drone Strike Hits Vehicle in South Lebanon
An Israeli drone struck a vehicle near the town of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, Lebanese sources said, in the latest cross-border strike to test a fragile truce. It came as the next round of US-brokered Israel-Lebanon talks was still expe…
Burnham Moves to Block Release of PC Harper's Killers
Andy Burnham has ordered ministers to find a way to stop the automatic early release of the two men jailed over the death of PC Andrew Harper, and the government said on Tuesday it had identified a “solution” to keep them behind bars. The…
Almost Three-Quarters of England Now in Drought
Almost three-quarters of England is now officially in drought, the Environment Agency said, after further regions were added following the driest July on record. Water restrictions are spreading across the country as a fifth heatwave build…
Councils to Get Powers Over Vape and Betting Shops
Andy Burnham has unveiled plans to give councils new powers to block the opening of vape shops and betting shops, as part of a drive to revive “hollowed-out” high streets. The measures would let local authorities restrict where such outlet…
Reform Pledges to Deport Foreign Prisoners to El Salvador
Reform UK said it would deport foreign criminals to serve their sentences in prisons in El Salvador, an escalation of its hardline plan to empty Britain’s overcrowded jails of foreign nationals. Critics warned the scheme could expose depor…
Heathrow Loses Its "Busiest in Europe" Crown
Heathrow has lost its long-held title as Europe’s busiest airport, overtaken by a continental rival, according to new figures. The London hub, constrained by its two runways, has been outpaced by airports able to expand. It comes as the go…