Meanwhile shipping company Maersk said one of its US-flagged commercial vessels had successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz under US military protection.
00:23
THE
HEAR
This page is an archive of main headlines from the UK for 05.05.2026.
It displays 89 headlines from many sources chronologically, as they appeared throughout the day, accompanied by AI overviews that were written in real time.
05.05.2026 ⇢ The Day the Ceasefire Held but Hormuz Burned
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On May 5, the Strait of Hormuz crisis remained the dominant story, with editors tracking a fragile ceasefire. In the morning, Iran warned the US 'we have not even begun' and 'we are just getting started' after attacks on ships. US Defense Secretary Hegseth insisted the ceasefire 'is not over' while threatening 'overwhelming force'. By afternoon, the UAE reported intercepting Iranian missiles and drones for a second day. Trump warned Iran 'know what not to do'. Evening saw Rubio declare the offensive stage 'over' but warn of 'lethal efficiency' if attacked. Domestically, the economic impact of 'Trumpflation' hit hard: borrowing costs at 30-year highs and airlines cutting 2 million seats due to jet fuel shortages. A row over Arts Council England funding anti-Semitism drew Starmer's accusation. The Bristol grenade attack story developed with details of a hero mother saving a child.
05.05.2026
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05:48
US launched an operation on Monday in the Gulf, dragging the region back to the brink of full-scale war
05:48
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06:08
06:14
06:33
The Spectator
06:33
06:56
BBC
Iran warns US against being 'dragged back into quagmire' after day of attacks in Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump says the US "shot down" seven Iranian boats, a claim denied by Tehran. Iran fired missiles and drones at military and commercial ships, according to the US.
06:56
07:03
US operation announced as ‘Project Freedom’ dramatically raises stakes in conflict
07:03
07:03
New Statesman
The Shy Reform effect (including among its own candidates) could reshape this classic Labour-Tory bellwether
07:03
08:10
08:13⇢Trump's Warships Sail for Hormuz
⌨The Strait of Hormuz crisis intensifies as Trump sends warships to break Iran's blockade, with Iran warning the US against being 'dragged back into quagmire'. Multiple outlets cover the military escalation, while domestic politics features Reform UK's potential impact on local elections.
08:17
Iranian speaker says ‘new equation of the strait of Hormuz is in the process of being solidified’
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08:41
UK | Sarah Hooper
08:41
09:06
HuffPost UK
09:06
09:13
09:24
BBC
Iran warns US that 'we are just getting started' after attacks in Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump says the US "shot down" seven Iranian boats on Monday, a claim denied by Tehran. Iran fired missiles and drones at military and commercial ships, according to the US.
09:24
09:31
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10:09
Breitbart UK
The three top left-wing political parties in Germany announced on Monday that they are quitting Elon Musk’s X social media platform in a coordinated move.
10:09
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11:22
11:22
HuffPost UK
11:22
11:22
11:22
World | Barney Davis
11:22
11:37
The Telegraph
11:37
11:51
His trite new sculpture has the moral complexity of a Catchphrase clue.
11:51
11:56
The Spectator
11:56
11:58⇢Iran's Unfinished Escalation
⌨The Strait of Hormuz crisis dominates, with Iran warning the US 'we have not even begun' and 'we are just getting started' after attacks on ships. Airlines axe 2 million seats due to critically low jet fuel supplies, with Britain among the hardest-hit. Multiple outlets cover the escalation, while domestic politics features Reform UK's potential impact on local elections.
12:34
12:59
BBC
Hegseth about to speak as Iran warns US it is 'just getting started' in Strait of Hormuz
The US Defence Secretary is giving a news conference a day after the US military began "Project Freedom" in the strait - watch live on this page.
12:59
13:07
BBC
Hegseth speaking as Iran warns US it is 'just getting started' in Strait of Hormuz
The US Defence Secretary is giving a news conference a day after the US military began "Project Freedom" in the strait - watch live on this page.
13:07
13:07
13:07
US defence secretary giving news conference
13:07
13:19
BBC
Iran attempting 'international extortion' in Strait of Hormuz, US defence secretary says
Pete Hegseth tells a news conference that two US commercial ships transiting the strait on Monday shows the strait is "clear".
13:19
13:19
HuffPost UK
13:19
13:32
BBC
Hegseth says the US-Iran ceasefire is 'not over' despite attacks in Strait of Hormuz
The US defence secretary tells a news conference that - despite the US and Iran launching attacks on Monday - the ceasefire "holds".
13:32
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13:39
The Guardian
US defence secretary tells press Iran is attempting ‘international extortion’ but the ceasefire remains in place
13:39
13:58
UK | Sarah Hooper
13:58
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UK | Sarah Hooper
14:11
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14:37
14:57
UK | Sarah Hooper
14:57
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14:58
14:59⇢Hegseth: Ceasefire Holds Amid Hormuz Strikes
⌨The Strait of Hormuz crisis continues to dominate, with US Defence Secretary Hegseth stating the ceasefire 'is not over' despite attacks, while threatening 'overwhelming force' (The Guardian, The Independent, BBC News). Domestically, the economic impact of 'Trumpflation' hits the UK hard, with borrowing costs at 30-year highs and airlines cutting 2 million seats (Daily Mail).
15:03
Their plan is finally coming together. Or not.
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16:38
Breitbart UK
The British electorate is seeing the rise of “Islamopopulism”, in which Muslim voters are abandoning their traditional political home of the Labour Party for further left alternatives or independents who cater to niche issues like Gaza, a think tank has found.
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17:10
US president dismisses Tehran’s military capability while speaking at Oval Office after Hegseth’s earlier comments that the ceasefire ‘is not over’
17:10
17:48
The Spectator
17:48
17:54
18:19
Chancellor Merz’s bid to bolster his domestic image by appearing tough on President Trump appears to have gained him little traction, with the German leader enjoying rock-bottom approval domestically and the lowest approval of any major European leader.
18:19
18:26
UK | Sarah Hooper
18:26
18:32
Britain’s anti-Semitism crisis will not be solved by authoritarianism.
18:32
18:34⇢Ceasefire's Fragile Thread
⌨The US-Iran ceasefire remains fragile, with Trump warning Iran 'know what not to do' while Hegseth insists it's 'not over' despite ongoing strikes. Domestically, a row over Arts Council England funding anti-Semitism draws Starmer's accusation and Spectator's question on 'hate' funding.
18:37
The first ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz as part of Donald Trump’s “Project Freedom”, a US-led operation to escort commercial ships after Iran’s blockade disrupted global oil supplies and stranded hundreds of vessels.
18:37
18:51
The Economist
18:51
19:17
The Telegraph
19:17
19:37
BBC
US says Iran ceasefire is 'not over' despite attacks in Strait of Hormuz
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says Iran is attempting "international extortion" in the strait. Iran earlier warned the US "we are just getting started".
19:37
19:56
The former Labour leader was the subject of ‘disgraceful’ claims suggesting that he is responsible for antisemitism in Britain by presenter Cathy Newman and former cabinet minister Nadine Dorries. Harriet Williamson reports.
19:56
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20:55
Conflict appears to have reached painful stalemate, but leaders in Tehran and Washington seem to think victory is near
20:55
20:55
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have warned vessels to use their corridors in the Strait of Hormuz or they will face what they said would be a “decisive response”.
20:55
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21:29
BBC
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says offensive stage of Iran war is 'over'
The UK maritime authority meanwhile reports a cargo vessel being struck "by an unknown projectile" in the Strait of Hormuz.
21:29
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23:32
23:34⇢Ceasefire's Stalemate
⌨The US-Iran ceasefire remains fragile, with conflicting signals: Rubio says offensive stage is over, but warns of 'lethal efficiency' if attacked, while the Guardian reports a stalemate. Clashes in the Strait of Hormuz continue, with a vessel struck by a projectile. Domestically, Starmer urges Brits to choose progress, but faces criticism from Welsh Labour leader.
23:44
As a spate of incidents in the Strait of Hormuz test the ceasefire, an Iranian official says, "We are just getting started".
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