politics

World leaders condemn Iran missile attacks on UAE amid Hormuz tensions

Iran launched its first attack on the UAE since a fragile ceasefire in early April, firing 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones at the country on Monday, May 4. UAE air defences intercepted all incoming threats, though a fire in Fujairah left three people injured. The escalation comes amid rising Gulf tensions, with US forces targeting Iranian IRGC boats under “Project Freedom” and warning of retaliation if US ships are hit. In response to the security situation, authorities in Dubai and Sharjah temporarily moved schools to online learning to ensure student safety. Regional shipping through the Strait of Hormuz faces growing disruption amid a widening “double blockade.” We bring you real-time updates on this unfolding crisis:

01:05 PM, 5 May 2026

Pakistan’s Shehbaz condemns Iran attacks

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the Iranian missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in the UAE, expressing full solidarity with President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Pakistan strongly condemns the missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates last night. I express full solidarity with His Highness @MohamedBinZayed. Pakistan stands firmly with our Emirati brothers and sisters as well as with the Government of…

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 5, 2026

12:49 PM, 5 May 2026

Asian stocks drop amid fears over US-Iran ceasefire

Asian stocks sank Tuesday with a fresh spike in Middle East tensions fanning fears over the fragile US-Iran ceasefire, as the two sides appeared no closer to a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

And while oil prices fell, they held most of the huge gains seen Monday after the two countries traded fire over the key waterway and the United Arab Emirates reported a strike on an installation.

The exchanges came after Donald Trump announced a mission called “Project Freedom” to guide ships from neutral countries out of the Gulf, saying it was a humanitarian effort to help stranded crews.

12:34 PM, 5 May 2026

Qatar’s Emir condemns terrorist attacks targeting the UAE

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received a phone call from Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, condemning the Iranian terrorist attacks targeting civilian sites and facilities in the UAE.

His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani noted that the attacks constitute a violation of the UAE’s sovereignty and a threat to its security, stability and territorial integrity. He affirmed Qatar’s full solidarity with the UAE and its support for all measures taken to safeguard its security.

11:46 AM, 5 May 2026

Saudi crown prince backs UAE, slams Iran’s terrorist strikes

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received a phone call from Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during which he condemned the Iranian terrorist attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure in the UAE, noting that they constitute a violation of the country’s sovereignty and of international law, and undermine regional security and stability.

11:43 AM, 5 May 2026

Belgium condemns Iranian attacks on UAE

Belgium has strongly condemned the recent Iranian attacks on the United Arab Emirates and expressed full solidarity with the Emirati people, describing the attacks as a flagrant violation of international law.

In a statement on Tuesday, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot expressed full solidarity and support for the people of the UAE, following what he described as renewed, unjustified Iranian attacks. He condemned the incidents as a clear breach of international law and stressed that the territorial integrity of Gulf states must be respected.

11:03 AM, 5 May 2026

UAE’s Gargash thanks world for solidarity, calls Iran ‘aggressor’

UAE Presidential Adviser Dr. Anwar Gargash responded on X on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, to the wave of international condemnation of the Iranian attacks, expressing appreciation for global support while squarely placing blame on Tehran. Gargash wrote: “We appreciate and value the messages of solidarity from the Gulf, Arab, and international communities with the United Arab Emirates, which condemn and denounce the treacherous Iranian attack, and reflect the international community’s commitment to a system based on values and responsibility, one that rejects rogue actions and isolates their perpetrators. These positions affirm that Iran is the aggressor party, responsible for exacerbating the crisis in the Arabian Gulf, and the source of danger and threat to its security and stability.”

10:48 AM, 5 May 2026

Modi condemns UAE attacks

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, strongly condemning the Iranian attacks on the UAE following confirmation that three Indian nationals were among the injured. Modi wrote: “Strongly condemn the attacks on the UAE that resulted in injuries to three Indian nationals.”

Strongly condemn the attacks on the UAE that resulted in injuries to three Indian nationals. Targeting civilians and infrastructure is unacceptable.

India stands in firm solidarity with the UAE and reiterates its support for the peaceful resolution of all issues through…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 5, 2026

10:34 AM, 5 May 2026

New equation taking shape in Hormuz

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, that a new strategic reality is emerging in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the “new equation of the Strait of Hormuz is in the process of being solidified.” Ghalibaf squarely blamed the United States for jeopardising the security of shipping and energy transit through the critical waterway.

09:35 AM, 5 May 2026

South Korea to review joining US Hormuz operation

South Korea said Tuesday it will “review its position” on joining US operations in the Strait of Hormuz after President Donald Trump urged Seoul to take part following an apparent Iranian attack on one of its ships.

An explosion and fire were reported on a South Korean cargo vessel on Monday in the key waterway, which has been effectively blocked since the Mideast war erupted on February 28.

South Korea’s foreign ministry said Tuesday that all 24 crew members aboard the stricken HMM Namu — including six South Korean nationals — were unharmed. Trump said the incident should prompt South Korea to join American efforts to guide stranded ships through the strait, a major artery for the fuel exports that Seoul relies on.

09:07 AM, 5 May 2026

Iran’s FM warns US against military path

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi took to X on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, cautioning the United States against pursuing a military resolution to the Strait of Hormuz crisis as US-Iran nuclear talks continue with Pakistan’s mediation.

Araghchi wrote: “Events in Hormuz make clear that there’s no military solution to a political crisis. As talks are making progress with Pakistan’s gracious effort, the US should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire by ill-wishers. So should the UAE. Project Freedom is Project Deadlock.”

08:45 AM, 5 May 2026

India condemns Fujairah attack

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has condemned the Iranian attack on Fujairah, confirming that three Indian nationals were among those injured. Official Spokesperson of the Ministry issued a statement on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, calling for an immediate halt to hostilities and urging diplomatic resolution to the crisis.

08:20 AM, 5 May 2026

Growing calls for de-escalation

The United Kingdom, France, Germany and Saudi Arabia called for de-escalation in the Middle East following reported attacks on the United Arab Emirates.

Britain’s Prime Minister said that the “escalation must cease”, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wrote on X that “Tehran must return to the negotiating table and stop holding the region and the world hostage.”

08:17 AM, 5 May 2026

Iran says attacks are response to US

A senior Iranian military official did not deny the fresh strikes but said on state television that the Islamic republic had “no pre-planned programme to attack the oil facilities in question”.

“What happened was the product of the US military’s adventurism to create a passage for ships to illegally pass through” the Strait of Hormuz, the official said. “The US military must be held accountable for it”.

7:27 AM, 5 May 2026

Canada strongly condemns Iran’s unprovoked attacks on UAE

Canada strongly condemned Iran’s unprovoked missile and drone attacks on the UAE.

“We stand in solidarity with and the people of the United Arab Emirates and commend defensive efforts to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a post on X.

07:21 AM, 5 May 2026

First Russian oil arrives in Japan since Iran war

Japan has taken delivery of its first stockpile of oil from Russia since global supplies were choked off by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz at the start of the Iran war, reports said.

A tanker carrying crude that was produced as part of a Sakhalin-2 natural gas development project reached the coast of Imabari in western Japan on Monday, TV Tokyo, the Asahi Shimbun daily and other media said Monday, citing unnamed officials of wholesaler Taiyo Oil.

Taiyo Oil received a request from the economy ministry to take in the petroleum, the reports said.

The crude is expected to be sent to a refinery, where it will be turned into gasoline, naphtha – used to make various products from plastics, chemical fibers to paints – and other petroleum products, the reports said.

Officials of the company could not immediately be reached to confirm the report.

07:16 AM, 5 May 2026

South Korean ship to be towed after fire in Strait of Hormuz

A probe will determine cause as crew confirmed safe amid regional shipping disruption

A South Korean-operated vessel that caught fire following an explosion in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday will be towed to a nearby port for inspection and repairs, Seoul’s foreign ministry said.

Authorities said a formal investigation will be carried out to determine the exact cause of the incident once the vessel reaches port.

The ship had 24 crew members on board, including six South Koreans, with no casualties reported.

Officials also noted that 26 South Korea-related vessels have been stranded in the Strait since the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, underscoring growing disruption to regional shipping routes.

07:15 AM, 5 May 2026

Iranian media claims US strike killed 5 civilians

Iranian state media has reported that a US military operation in the Strait of Hormuz resulted in the deaths of five civilians, disputing US claims that the targeted boats were linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

According to the Tasnim news agency, Iranian authorities said an investigation found that the vessels struck were civilian cargo boats carrying goods and passengers, travelling from Khasab in Oman towards the Iranian coast.

A military official was quoted as saying US forces “attacked and fired upon two small cargo boats” and that the operation reflected “fear” of Iran’s fast-boat capabilities in the region.

The allegations have not been verified, and there has been no immediate response from US authorities regarding the Iranian claims.

07:10 AM, 5 May 2026

UAE schools go online nationwide

The UAE Ministry of Education has announced a nationwide shift to distance learning from Tuesday, May 5, to Friday, May 8, 2026, covering students, teachers, and administrative staff across all nurseries and public and private schools. The measure has been taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the educational community amid the ongoing security situation, with authorities set to review the decision on Friday and noting the period may be extended if necessary.

06:59 AM, 5 May 2026

Over 100 US aircraft support operations in Strait of Hormuz

The United States has deployed warships and military aircraft across the Middle East as part of an expanded operation enforcing a naval blockade against Iran and ensuring the continued flow of commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The mission, known as Project Freedom, includes more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, among them US Air Force F-16 fighter jets, operating alongside naval forces in the region.

US officials said the deployment is aimed at protecting American forces and safeguarding commercial shipping routes amid rising tensions in the Gulf. The operation is focused on maintaining maritime security and supporting the movement of vessels through one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.

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06:31 AM, 5 May 2026

Tehran doesn’t outright confirm or deny the attacks

Early on Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that both the US and the UAE “should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire.”

In similarly vague terms, Iranian state television earlier quoted an anonymous military official as saying Tehran had had “no plan” to target the UAE or one of its oil fields.

“The incident resulted from US military adventurism to create an illegal passage,” the official was quoted as saying about the oil facility attack, apparently referring to Trump’s latest efforts to reopen the strait, a critical waterway for global energy.

05:26 AM, 5 May 2026

US urges reconsidering UAE travel after aerial threat alerts

Level 3 advisory stays as authorities issue nationwide warnings. The US Department of State has advised citizens to reconsider travel to the UAE following mobile alerts warning of potential aerial threats issued by the UAE Ministry of Interior.

The US maintains a Level 3 travel advisory, urging heightened caution. The US Mission to the UAE said it is monitoring the situation closely and advised Americans to follow local safety instructions, including shelter guidance if needed.

The US Embassy Abu Dhabi and US Consulate General Dubai remain open under ordered-departure status, with non-essential staff relocated. Routine visa services are suspended.

Residents are urged to stay alert, monitor official updates, and keep emergency supplies ready as the situation continues to evolve.

05:00 AM, 5 May 2026

Macron says Iranian strikes on UAE ‘unjustified’, ‘unacceptable’

Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned Iran’s strikes on the UAE, describing them as “unjustified and unacceptable” and pledging continued French support for the UAE and regional allies.

“As it has done since the start of the conflict, France will continue to support its allies in the Emirates and in the region for the defence of their territory,” Macron said in a post on X.

People

David Attenborough, ‘the voice for nature,’ turns 100

Britain’s David Attenborough, who has for decades been the world’s most authoritative voice on the natural world and whose documentaries have been watched by hundreds of millions, will on Friday celebrate his 100th birthday.

After more than 70 years of film-making, Attenborough’s instantly recognisable voice is synonymous with the story of ‌nature. He is still at the vanguard of efforts to protect the environment and has produced some of his most impactful work in recent years.

Counting Britain’s royal family, Barack Obama and pop star Billie Eilish among his admirers, Attenborough’s charisma, humour and warmth, alongside the depth of his knowledge and his flair for storytelling, have made him a broadcasting superstar.

“Your ability to communicate the beauty and vulnerability of our natural environment remains unequalled,” was how the late Queen Elizabeth summed up his achievements in 2019.

‘LONESOME GEORGE’ AND THE FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT

Attenborough’s films have communicated the wonder and also the tragedies of the natural world to viewers across the globe.

Standout scenes include his encounter with two playful young mountain gorillas who clambered onto him ⁠during his landmark 1979 series “Life on Earth”.

He also made his audience marvel at the teamwork of a pod of orcas hunting a seal by creating waves to break up ice, and his telling in 2012 of the story of “Lonesome George”, the last surviving Pinta Island tortoise, moved people to tears.

“He’s about 80 years old, and getting a bit creaky in his joints – as indeed am I,” Attenborough, then 86, said.

George’s death, two weeks after he was filmed, marked the extinction of his species.

“He’s focused the attention of the world on the fragility of our environment,” Attenborough said at the time.

While Attenborough has topped numerous national popularity polls, being named the country’s most admired man and the greatest living British cultural icon, friends say he rolls his eyes when he is labelled a “national treasure”.

“What he feels is that he’s a public servant. He feels that he had the unique opportunity to be the voice for nature, to tell everybody about the wonders of nature,” Mike Gunton, a television producer who has worked with Attenborough many times, told Reuters.

As climate change has accelerated and the threat to much of the world has become more urgent, Attenborough devoted much of ‌his 90s ⁠to raising public awareness.

His 2017 blockbuster “Blue Planet 2”, which highlighted the scourge of plastic in the ocean, achieved some of the highest viewing figures on British television before being sold to broadcasters around the world.

Albatrosses unwittingly feeding their chicks plastic fished from the ocean jolted public opinion and led the British government and major retailers to announce measures to reduce the use of plastics.

“I think every single person who’s seen anything that Sir David has done has been inspired to care about nature,” said Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum in London.

SPECIAL BBC BROADCASTS AND EVENTS

In Britain, Attenborough’s centenary is being marked with a week of ⁠special broadcasts on the BBC, a live concert at the Royal Albert Hall, events at museums, nature walks and tree planting.

The broadcasts include his new series “Secret Garden”. At 99, he remains heavily involved in programme-making, say BBC colleagues, driven by his enduring curiosity and joy of storytelling.

“That’s typical David. He makes everything really enjoyable,” said Mike Salisbury, who has worked as a producer on several Attenborough documentaries.

Born on May 8, 1926, Attenborough spent ⁠his childhood collecting fossils, insects and dried seahorses.

His BBC career took off in 1954 when he presented “Zoo Quest”, which involved him travelling to far-flung parts of the world and bringing animals back to London Zoo.

By the 1970s he had risen to be programme controller at the broadcaster but decided he wanted to return to making nature documentaries.

Screened in 1979 when he was 52, “Life on Earth” ⁠made him a household name. He wrote the entire 13-hour script and travelled the world for three years to tell the story of evolution from simple organisms to humans.

Dozens of documentaries followed, including “Blue Planet,” “Frozen Planet” and “Dynasties”. As the decades passed, his sense of the need to act only increased.

“How could I look my grandchildren in the eye and say I knew what was happening to the world and did nothing?” Attenborough said.

Reuters

politics

UAE, Saudi report drone incidents as Iran war drags on

A drone strike caused a fire at a nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates, officials there said on Sunday, while Saudi Arabia reported intercepting three drones, as U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iran must act “fast” after efforts to ‌end the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran appeared to have stalled.

Emirati officials said they were investigating the source of the strike and that the UAE had the full right to respond to such “terrorist attacks.” A diplomatic adviser to the UAE president said it represented a dangerous escalation, whether carried out by “the principal perpetrator” or one of its proxies.

The UAE defense ministry said two other drones had been “successfully” dealt with, and that the drones had been launched from the “western border.” It did not elaborate.

Saudi Arabia said the three drones it intercepted entered from Iraqi airspace and warned that it would take the necessary operational measures to respond to any attempt to violate its sovereignty and security.

While hostilities during the Iran conflict have largely been scaled down since a ceasefire came into effect ⁠in April, drones have been launched from Iraq towards Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

The drone that got through the UAE’s defenses hit an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said. Radiological safety levels were unaffected and there were no injuries, it said. UAE’s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation later confirmed that the plant remained safe, with no radioactive material released from the strike.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said emergency diesel generators were providing power to the plant’s “unit 3,” and called for “maximum military restraint” near any nuclear power plant, adding that it was following the situation closely.

During the war that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28, Iran has repeatedly targeted the UAE and other Gulf states that host U.S. military bases, hitting sites that include civilian and energy infrastructure.

Iran stepped up such attacks on the UAE earlier this month after Trump announced a naval mission to try to open the Strait of Hormuz, which Trump suspended after 48 hours.

DIPLOMATIC DEADLOCK

More than five weeks after a tenuous ceasefire in the conflict took effect, U.S. and Iranian demands remain far apart despite diplomatic efforts to end the war and reopen the strait, the world’s most important ‌shipping route for ⁠oil and gas.

Washington has called for Tehran to dismantle its nuclear program and lift its hold on the strait. Iran has demanded compensation for war damage, an end to a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and a halt to fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon, where Israel is battling Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Trump, whose harsh rhetoric has failed to break the stalemate, said in a post on Truth Social: “For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!”

Trump is expected to meet top national security advisers on Tuesday to discuss options for military action regarding Iran, Axios reported.

Trump held talks with Chinese President ⁠Xi Jinping this week without securing an indication from China that it would help resolve the conflict and has previously threatened to resume attacks if Iran does not agree to a deal.

A senior spokesperson for the Iranian armed forces, Abolfazl Shekarchi, said on Sunday that if Trump’s threats were carried out, the U.S. would “face new, aggressive, and surprise scenarios, and sink into a self-made quagmire”.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the U.S. and Israel had ⁠tried to shift the blame for destabilizing energy markets following their “unprovoked military aggression against Iran”.

RIVAL BLOCKADES

The disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has caused the biggest oil supply crisis in history, pushing up prices. The U.S. has imposed its own blockade of Iranian ports, and said that as of Sunday it had redirected 81 commercial vessels and disabled four vessels to ensure compliance.

Ebrahim Azizi, who heads the Iranian ⁠parliament’s national security committee, said on Saturday that Tehran had prepared a mechanism to manage traffic through the strait along a designated route that would be unveiled soon.

Thousands of Iranians were killed in the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. Thousands more have been killed in Lebanon in fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.

Israel and Lebanon agreed on Friday to a 45-day extension of a ceasefire there, though the truce has failed to end clashes.

Reuters

politics

What if disruption in Strait of Hormuz never ends?

For months, governments, businesses and financial markets treated the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz as a temporary crisis that would eventually ease through diplomacy or military de-escalation.

Moody’s Ratings is now warning the world may need to think differently.

In a new report, the ratings agency said the disruption to one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes is increasingly looking less like a short-term shock and more like a structural risk that could reshape global trade, energy markets and economic planning well beyond 2026.

The warning marks a shift in tone from earlier assessments that viewed the crisis mainly as a temporary supply disruption.

“We now have a single, central scenario which assumes a prolonged and significant disruption to the Strait of Hormuz through autumn,” Moody’s said.

Strait still vital to the world

The Strait of Hormuz handles around one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas flows, making it one of the world’s most critical trade chokepoints.

But shipping through the route has fallen by more than 90 per cent from pre-conflict levels as insurers raise premiums, shipping companies avoid the area and concerns over sea mines continue to disrupt navigation.

The conflict itself may dominate headlines, but Moody’s said the larger issue is what happens if the disruption simply drags on for months.

That could mean permanently higher shipping costs, more expensive energy, slower trade flows and new supply chain strategies as companies and governments adjust to prolonged instability in the Gulf.

“Global shipping routes are being structurally rewired,” Moody’s said. The agency said countries are increasingly turning to non-Gulf suppliers, alternative pipeline routes and regional trade systems to reduce reliance on the Strait.

Higher oil prices now a norm?

Moody’s now expects Brent crude prices to remain between $90 and $110 a barrel for much of this year, significantly above earlier expectations.

For consumers, that could mean prolonged pressure on fuel prices, airfares, transport costs and inflation. “Persistently higher energy prices will lead to increases in inflation and production costs, limiting household purchasing power,” Moody’s said.

The agency warned that even if a ceasefire or political agreement is reached, a return to normal conditions would still take time because shipping backlogs, tanker repositioning and insurance systems would need months to stabilise.

The report also suggested that some changes triggered by the crisis may not reverse at all. “Some structural shifts in supply chain design, risk premiums and defense spending will probably be permanent,” Moody’s said.

Airlines, manufacturing risks

Industries that rely heavily on fuel and transport are among the sectors most exposed if elevated oil prices continue.

Moody’s identified airlines, chemicals and building materials companies as facing the “most acute pressure” because of high operating costs and limited ability to pass rising expenses onto customers.

Consumer sectors including retail, hospitality and manufacturing could also come under strain if households reduce spending in response to higher living costs.

“Airlines, building products and chemicals face the most acute pressure,” Moody’s said. At the same time, some sectors could benefit from the changing environment.

Energy producers outside the Gulf region and aerospace and defence companies are expected to gain from higher oil prices and increased geopolitical tensions.

Asia faces the biggest challenge

The report said Asian economies remain among the most vulnerable because of their dependence on Middle Eastern energy imports.

India was identified as one of the most exposed major economies because around 46 per cent of its crude oil imports come from the Middle East.

Japan and South Korea were also described as highly vulnerable despite holding large emergency reserves, while China could face pressure on industrial profitability even with state-controlled pricing and large stockpiles.

“At sustained Brent prices of $90–$110/bbl, we estimate real GDP growth reductions of 0.2–0.8 percentage point for several major economies,” Moody’s said.

Crisis world may have to adapt to

Perhaps the biggest message from the Moody’s report is that the global economy may no longer be waiting for the Strait of Hormuz crisis to end quickly.

Instead, governments, businesses and investors are increasingly preparing for the possibility that disruption, higher costs and geopolitical risk in one of the world’s most important trade routes could become part of the global economic landscape for the foreseeable future.