Evening Briefing: Tuesday 18 August 2026
- Petrol: With the US-Iran truce now collapsed and Brent holding near $91, the risk premium in oil is not fading. Petrol and diesel prices are likely to stay high, and would climb further still if the standoff turns to open conflict.
- Bus travel: Disabled people in England will get free bus travel around the clock from April 2027, with the weekday 9.30am start scrapped. If you or a family member holds a disabled concessionary pass, early shifts and appointments will be covered.
- Food safety: A national salmonella outbreak linked to imported eggs has killed one person and infected 207, mostly through restaurants and caterers. Take extra care with eggs when eating out, particularly if you are elderly, pregnant or otherwise vulnerable.
Iran Turns to Offensive Footing as US Truce Collapses
The 60-day US-Iran truce expired with no deal and the White House ruled out an extension, as Tehran declared a “fully offensive” military posture. An IRGC official warned of “strategic surprises”, and Iran’s army chief announced a $30,000…
Russia Kills 10 in Kharkiv as Moscow Faces Record Drone Swarm
Ukraine launched more than 620 drones at the Moscow region overnight, its largest strike on the capital in two years, with 180 destroyed over the city, according to its mayor. Hours later a Russian missile attack on the Kharkiv-region vill…
Trump Orders Deep Cut to US-South Korea Military Drills
President Trump has ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” the annual joint military exercises with South Korea, hours before an 11-day drill involving 18,000 South Korean troops was due to begin. He cited Seoul’s refusal to join t…
Houthis Claim Strike on Saudi Warship as Yemen Nears War
Yemen’s Houthis claimed to have struck a Saudi military landing ship and four escort vessels with ballistic missiles off Mokha, though the account could not be verified and Riyadh has not confirmed it. It follows attacks on government camp…
UN Warns of Civilian Toll as Israel Strikes South Lebanon
The UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL said an average of 137 projectiles a day were fired into southern Lebanon between 5 and 16 August, warning that civilians are “once again paying the highest price”. Israeli strikes on 15 August killed at le…
Reform Suspends Montgomerie as Internal Feud Bursts Open
Reform UK has suspended Tim Montgomerie, a party board member and founder of ConservativeHome, after he aired the leadership’s internal tensions on a podcast. He criticised the party’s chief, Zia Yusuf, describing strained relations with N…
Disabled People to Get Free 24-Hour Bus Travel
Andrew Burnham announced that time limits on disabled people’s concessionary bus passes in England will be lifted, giving free travel around the clock from April 2027. The passes are currently valid only between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays…
Children's Commissioner Demands Overhaul of Prevent
The Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, called for a fundamental overhaul of Prevent, warning that the counter-extremism programme is failing children who are fixated with violence but hold no clear ideology. Referrals of childr…
Ferguson Shipyard to Cut a Quarter of Workforce
Ferguson Marine, the state-owned shipyard in Port Glasgow, opened a voluntary redundancy scheme for up to 70 of its 283 staff, around a quarter of the workforce, as work on the ferry Glen Rosa winds down. It leaves the yard with no ship un…
One Dead as National Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Eggs
Health officials declared a national outbreak of salmonella that has infected 207 people and left one dead, the UK Health Security Agency said. Cases span all four nations, the great majority in England, with around 38 per cent of those wi…