Oil prices rise sharply after Iran launches attacks on tankers near strait of Hormuz 08. July 2026 (17:45) Brent crude benchmark rose to more than $78 a barrel, its steepest increase since ceasefire beganOil markets have recorded the sharpest price rise in nearly two months after a series of attacks on fossil fuel tankers near the strait of Hormuz led Donald Trump to declare that the ceasefire deal with Iran was “over”.Brent, the global crude benchmark rose by 5% on Wednesday to more than $78 (£58) a barrel, the highest price since the US and Iran agreed the ceasefire while negotiating an end to the war last month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Treasury yet to do due diligence on finding extra money for UK’s Nato spend 08. July 2026 (17:30) How to hit the 3.5% of GDP defence spending promise would be a matter for ‘the next prime minister’, MPs told The Treasury has as yet carried out no analysis of the trade-offs necessary for the UK to hit the 3.5% of GDP defence spending promise made to Nato, chief secretary Lucy Rigby has said.Under robust questioning in a joint session of the Treasury and defence select committees on Wednesday, Rigby repeatedly said that how to fund additional defence spending would be a matter for “the next prime minister”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US judge throws out Trump’s $3.8bn defamation lawsuit against Washington Post 08. July 2026 (17:18) Suit stemmed from 2023 Post article that said bank with ties to the porn industry helped fund Trump’s media operationA federal judge in Florida has thrown out Donald Trump’s $3.8bn defamation lawsuit against the Washington Post over an article that said a bank with links to the pornography industry helped fund his fledgling social media operation.In a brief order granting summary judgment to the newspaper, Tampa district court judge Thomas Patrick Barber, a Trump appointee, said the Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG) had “failed to present evidence that would allow a jury to find by clear and convincing evidence” that the Post acted with actual malice, the benchmark for such an action to succeed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Minister ‘appalled’ as ex-data watchdog prepares to sue woman who raised harassment concerns 08. July 2026 (17:13) John Edwards resigned in June after independent investigation following claims of sexual harassment and bullyingThe UK information commissioner who resigned over sexual harassment and bullying claims is understood to be taking legal action against a woman who flagged his conduct.The science and technology secretary, Liz Kendall, said she was “appalled” by the fact that John Edwards was preparing to serve legal papers on one of the “incredibly brave” women at the ICO who had raised concerns about his behaviour. Edwards resigned from his post as the UK’s data regulator in June after an independent investigation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
