Evening Briefing: Saturday 15 August 2026
- Petrol: Oil pushed higher again as the Hormuz crisis deepened, with the UAE reporting a third of its tankers struck. With the strait still contested, petrol and diesel prices are likely to keep climbing.
- Wildfires: With 37 fires burning at record levels and the army deployed, heed emergency alerts and evacuation notices, and avoid anything that could spark a blaze in tinder-dry conditions.
- Your money: The Chancellor is guarding the autumn budget closely amid speculation over tax rises on pensions and more, though he has confirmed the freeze on fuel duty will continue. The choices ahead could shape household finances.
Hormuz Crisis Deepens as UAE Reports Another Tanker Struck
The United Arab Emirates accused Iran of striking another of its tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, reportedly the third Emirati vessel hit in under a week, sending shipping through the waterway to near three-month lows and pushing oil highe…
Israeli Strikes Kill 11 in Southern Lebanon
Israeli air strikes on southern Lebanon killed 11 people, including children, according to the Lebanese health ministry — the deadliest attacks since a ceasefire in June. Seven died in one strike on a family home in the village of Ansar. T…
Indonesia Earthquake Kills at Least 47 Off Flores
The death toll from the magnitude-7.7 earthquake off eastern Indonesia climbed to at least 47 through the day, according to officials, as rescuers searched collapsed buildings. The quake, followed by a strong aftershock, toppled structures…
Colombia Quake Toll Rises to Around 294
The death toll from Colombia’s earthquake rose to about 294, the national disaster agency said, up from 281 in the morning, with roughly 400 people still missing and more than 12,000 homes destroyed. Hopes of finding survivors have all but…
UN Warns Congo Ebola Is Killing One Person Every 30 Minutes
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is now killing roughly one person every 30 minutes, the United Nations said, as the World Health Organization warned it is on track to become the deadliest on record. Confirmed cases h…
Wildfires Hit Record Levels as Teenagers Arrested Over Blaze
Wildfires reached record levels across the country, with 37 blazes burning and the army deployed to help exhausted fire crews. Residents were evacuated near Llandovery in south Wales, and four 14-year-old boys were arrested on suspicion of…
Farage Holds Clacton as Standards Watchdog Probe Resumes
Nigel Farage was confirmed as the winner of the Clacton by-election, a contest the main parties boycotted, with the satirical candidate Count Binface second on almost 10,000 votes. Following the win, the parliamentary standards watchdog re…
Backlash Grows Over Plan to Spread Asylum Housing to Villages
A backlash is building against the government’s plan to disperse asylum seekers more widely, including into villages and onto army bases, with local protests and a rebellion among some councils. Residents in a Norfolk town where the plan i…
Healey Guards Budget Amid Tax-Rise Speculation
Chancellor John Healey is said to be on a “war footing” to prevent leaks ahead of the autumn budget, as speculation swirls over possible tax rises, including on pension savings. Business figures have urged him to end the “kite-flying” and…
Khan Urges Burnham Not to Retreat on Net Zero
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, publicly urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham not to slow down on net zero, as the government weighs cutting the UK’s electric-vehicle sales targets under pressure from carmakers. The intervention exposes tens…