The Middle East conflict has had a string of knock-on effects in the UK, including for homeowners who are now facing higher bills.

The Independent has been shown data comparing the best rates on offer from one major high street bank on the 27 February, the day before the war started, to their best rate on offer today. The difference highlights the rapid rise - and the associated extra cost - for homeowners.

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The Abu Dhabi Media Office said that authorities responded to “an incident involving falling debris in Sweihan street, following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems.”

The country continues to recover from the temporary closure of airspace earlier this month, which grounded flights and severely disrupted travel plans in the UAE.

Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi say they are gradually resuming some flights to and from its airports.

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) has advised against all but essential travel to the UAE as the regional escalation poses “significant security risks”.

The Pentagon is reportedly considering diverting crucial weaponry initially earmarked for Ukraine towards the Middle East.

The missiles were acquired through a Nato initiative launched in 2025, designed for partner nations to purchase US arms for Kyiv.

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Pakistan’s deputy prime minister said on X on Thursday morning: “In reality, US-Iran indirect talks are taking place through messages being relayed by Pakistan.

“In this context, the United States has shared 15 points, being deliberated upon by Iran.”

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Malaysia's prime minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday he had spoken to the leaders of Iran, Egypt, Turkey and other regional countries and said Malaysian vessels were now being allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Anwar in a televised address thanked Iran's president for allowing the passage of the vessels.

He also said Malaysia's government would maintain the price of subsidised oil.

In a further Truth Social post this morning, the US president said: “The Iranian negotiators are very different and “strange.”

“They are “begging” us to make a deal, which they should be doing since they have been militarily obliterated, with zero chance of a comeback, and yet they publicly state that they are only “looking at our proposal.” WRONG!!! They better get serious soon, before it is too late, because once that happens, there is NO TURNING BACK, and it won’t be pretty!”

Israel said on Thursday it had killed Commodore Alireza Tangsiri, the head of Iranian Revolutionary Guard's navy, the key official overseeing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said he had been killed with other senior naval commanders in a strike overnight. Iran did not immediately acknowledge Tangsiri's killing.

Using Pakistan as an intermediary, Washington has delivered to Iran a 15-point ceasefire proposal, which includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Donald Trump, speaking at a fundraiser on Wednesday night in Washington, insisted that Iran still wants to make a deal to halt the conflict.

"They are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly, but they're afraid to say it because they figure they'll be killed by their own people," Trump said.

However, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview on state television that his government has not engaged in talks to end the war, "and we do not plan on any negotiations."

Araghchi said the US had tried to send messages to Iran through other nations, "but that is not a conversation nor a negotiation."