Morning Briefing: Saturday 15 August 2026
- Petrol: Oil capped its best week in months, with Brent near $88.50 and up around 6 per cent, as the Strait of Hormuz standoff dragged on and President Trump told Americans to accept higher pump prices. Petrol and diesel are likely to stay high or rise.
- Wildfires: An emergency alert has been sent to phones and the army deployed as fires spread across a “tinderbox” Britain, with disposable barbecues banned. Heed local warnings and evacuation notices, and avoid open flames.
- Food: With drought scorching farmland, the government has announced 65 million pounds for affected farmers — but a damaged harvest still points to higher food prices in the months ahead.
Hormuz Standoff Deepens as Iran Stays Defiant and Oil Climbs
The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz showed no sign of easing, with Iran remaining defiant over the closed waterway and refusing to commit to talks. President Trump suggested he might declare the strait “territory of the United States”,…
Powerful Earthquake Strikes Eastern Indonesia
A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia overnight, toppling buildings and prompting a tsunami warning that was later lifted. At least five people were killed, according to officials, though rescuers feared the toll could ri…
Colombia Quake Toll Passes 281 as Recovery Begins
The death toll from Colombia’s strongest earthquake in a century has passed 281, with around 400 people still missing and more than 12,000 homes destroyed, according to authorities. With the survival window long past, the operation has shi…
Russia Rejects Ukraine's Black Sea Truce Offer
Russia dismissed Ukraine’s proposal for a mutual halt to attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea, saying it would only give Kyiv “temporary respite” and accusing the West of having broken its word before. Strikes on merchant vessels…
WHO Warns Congo Ebola Outbreak Could Be Deadliest Ever
The World Health Organization has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is on track to become the deadliest on record, having spread to a sixth province. More than 2,000 people are reported to have died. The vi…
Emergency Alert Sent to Phones as Wildfires Spread
The government sent an emergency alert to phones across England and Wales warning of extreme wildfire risk, as the military was deployed to help tackle blazes during the heatwave. At least 19 homes were reported destroyed and residents in…
Farage Holds Clacton but Could Face a Second By-Election
Nigel Farage was re-elected as MP for Clacton in a by-election the main parties declined to contest, with the satirical candidate Count Binface taking almost 10,000 votes. Within hours, the parliamentary standards inquiry into an undisclos…
Government Sets 24-Week Target for Asylum Appeals
The government has announced a 24-week target for deciding asylum appeals, part of an effort to speed up removals and clear a backlog that has left many in limbo and in taxpayer-funded accommodation. Ministers say faster decisions will cut…
Burnham Announces 65 Million Pound Package for Drought-Hit Farmers
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced 65 million pounds of support for farmers hit by the drought that has accompanied the heatwave and wildfires, saying growers should not carry the risk of a changing climate alone. The funding is aimed a…
Government Consults on Weakening 2030 Electric-Car Target
The government has launched a consultation on softening the UK’s electric-vehicle sales targets, under pressure from carmakers who say the goals are unrealistic. Relaxing the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate would ease the burden on manufactu…