U.S. military officials said Iran launched missiles, drones and small boats at ships sailing through the passage with U.S. support on Monday. Six small Iranian boats were targeting civilian vessels, according to officials.
If Iranians continue to target commercial ships during the so-called Project Freedom escort operation, the country will “be blown off the face of the earth,” Trump told Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst on Monday.
Trump’s latest rhetoric follows last month’s threats that a “whole civilization will die” in Iran “never to be brought back again” if the nation did not agree to a ceasefire deal and reopen the Strait, whose effective closure has choked off global oil supplies and surged barrel prices.
Advertisement
“Iran has taken some shots at unrelated Nations with respect to the Ship Movement, PROJECT FREEDOM, including a South Korean Cargo Ship,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday as he suggested South Korea should “come and join the mission.”
Donald Trump’s latest threats to destroy Iranian civilization test a tenuous ceasefire as the US launches mission to escort commercial ships through Strait of Hormuz (Getty)
“We’ve shot down seven small Boats or, as they like to call them, ‘fast’ Boats. It’s all they have left,” he wrote. “Other than the South Korean Ship, there has been, at this moment, no damage going through the Strait.”
On Sunday, Trump vowed to aid commercial vessels stranded in the waterway as part to “free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong” for what he described as a “humanitarian mission.”
“They are merely neutral and innocent bystanders! For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” he wrote.
The operation will deploy 15,000 troops, more than 100 aircraft and guided-missile destroyers, according to U.S. Central Command.
Advertisement
Iranian military officials have warned that any foreign forces approaching the Strait will be “targeted and attacked.”
“We have repeatedly said the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of vessels needs to be co-ordinated with the armed forces,” according to Major General Ali Abdollahi.
Iran’s navy reportedly fired ‘warning shots’ at American warships in the Strait of Hormuz on May 4 after the US military deployed cruisers to escort trapped commercial vessels (AFP/Getty)
Trump’s increasingly violent threats to Iran have fueled urgent, bipartisan demands to administration officials to remove him from office.
Last month, less than two hours before his self-imposed deadline to begin launching attacks that he said would destroy a “whole civilization,” the president announced a two-week pause in fighting while negotiations with Iran continued.
In an Easter Sunday message, Trump told Iran to “Open the F****’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell.”
Advertisement
Two days later, he wrote: “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”
Democratic members of Congress and some former Trump allies have rallied around the invocation of the 25th Amendment, which allows for the vice president and a majority of the cabinet to declare the president unfit to serve.
Obviously, his love of nature and championing the animal kingdom has been kind to him.
But let’s be honest, Britain’s number one national treasure deserves it more than anyone.
David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth will be hosted by the BBC’s Kirsty Young, who said. “Sir David’s gift to the world has been a life spent exquisitely revealing Earth’s wonders to us all.”
Advertisement
“The very least he deserves is a big 100th birthday bash at the Royal Albert Hall! I’m very happy indeed, as the host, to be able to invite everyone to the party.”
But now, a leading longevity expert has revealed the five simple lifestyle changes that could help Brits live longer, healthier lives.
Doctors say many people unknowingly slip into habits that accelerate ageing – from blood-sugar spikes and muscle loss to poor sleep and chronic stress.
Advertisement
But new evidence shows that small, consistent daily rituals can dramatically slow the ageing process.
Dr Asiya Maula, GP and functional & lifestyle medicine specialist at The Health Suite , says most people focus on lifespan – “how long you live” – but ignore healthspan: the number of years you live without disease, frailty or dependence.
“People think longevity is about genetics or expensive supplements,” she said. “But your daily habits are more powerful than anything you can buy.
“The right tweaks can genuinely add years of healthy life.”
Advertisement
How to live to 100 years of age:
1. Keep blood sugar stable – especially in winter
Cold weather makes people crave carbs and comfort foods, but big glucose spikes speed up ageing.
“When your blood sugar rollercoasters all day, inflammation rises and cells age faster,” Dr Asiya explained.
“She recommends protein with every meal, walking after you eat, and swapping sugary snacks for slow-release carbs like oats, beans, lentils and potatoes.
Advertisement
2. Build – and protect – your muscle
After 35, muscle loss accelerates, raising the risk of diabetes, falls and frailty. “Muscle is your longevity organ,” she said.
“It controls metabolism, blood sugar, posture and even immune function.”
Two strength sessions a week plus daily movement can make a “dramatic” difference.
3. Prioritise sleep like a prescription
Advertisement
Poor sleep drives weight gain, inflammation and dementia risk. “Sleep is when your brain cleans itself,” Dr Asiya said.
“Seven to nine hours is non-negotiable if you want to age well.”
4. Reduce chronic stress
Stress hormones erode immune resilience and accelerate biological ageing.
Advertisement
Dr Asiya recommends breathwork, daylight exposure, boundaries with phones and evening wind-downs: “Your nervous system needs recovery the same way your muscles do.”
Loneliness increases the risk of early death by 30%. “Strong friendships, community and purpose keep people alive longer than any medication,” she said.
“Connection is the heartbeat of longevity.”
Advertisement
Dr Asiya added: “These aren’t extreme hacks. They’re realistic habits anyone can build.
“And the evidence is clear – stack them together, and you genuinely could add up to a decade to your healthy life.”
Do you think you could reach David Attenborough’s grand old age? Let us know in the comments
Thankfully, we don’t have to wait too long for the next one!
We hope everyone made the most of their May Day Bank Holiday weekend!
Advertisement
Whether you were taking part or watching the Belfast City Marathon on Sunday, enjoying a day out with the kids or however you spent your day, it is hard not to already look ahead to the next day off when heading into work this morning.
If you are the type to keep on top of your Bank Holidays to maximise your annual leave, we have rounded up the remaining Bank Holidays in Northern Ireland for the rest of the year so you don’t have to.
It might look like a random string of numbers and letters, but getting it wrong could mean you’re paying too much tax – or not enough and facing a surprise bill later.
Your tax code is used by your employer or pension provider to work out how much Income Tax to deduct from your wages or pension.
It’s issued by HM Revenue and Customs and applies automatically – meaning many people never question whether it’s correct.
Advertisement
But errors do happen.
The most common code explained
For most people, the standard tax code is 1257L.
This is based on the Personal Allowance – currently £12,570 – which is the amount you can earn before paying Income Tax.
In simple terms, the number reflects your tax-free allowance, while the letter relates to your personal circumstances.
Advertisement
How you could be losing money
If your tax code is wrong, you could:
Pay too much tax, reducing your take-home pay
Pay too little tax, leading to an unexpected bill later
And with finances already stretched, even small errors can add up over time.
Why mistakes happen
Tax codes can change for several reasons, including:
Starting a new job
Having more than one income
Receiving benefits or company perks
Changes to your personal allowance
If HMRC doesn’t have the correct information, your code may not reflect your situation.
what the numbers and letters in your tax code mean
how much tax you will pay
what you may need to do next
What the numbers mean in your HMRC tax code
The numbers in your tax code tell your employer or pension provider how much tax-free income you get in that tax year.
HMRC works out your individual number based on your Personal Allowance and income you have not paid tax on (such as untaxed interest or part-time earnings). They also consider the value of any perks you get from your employer (such as a company car).
The PSNI had earlier issued a stern warning that “anti-social driving, or reckless driving will not be tolerated”
20:58, 04 May 2026Updated 21:14, 04 May 2026
A Belfast MLA has slammed the “disgraceful scenes” appearing to show a large car cruise event in the west of the city on Bank Holiday Monday evening, May 4.
Mr Baker condemned the scenes, writing on Facebook : “Disgraceful scenes on Stewartstown Road; shame on those who brought this to our community. PSNI were well warned, and I asked for preventive measures.
“They didn’t listen and failed in their duties. They didn’t prepare and left our community to pick up the pieces. Shameful and unacceptable.”
Earlier, Mr Baker said: “Our community does not want cars traveling across the city for so called ‘meet ups’! The Dairy Farm Complex is a vital resource for our community.
Advertisement
“It serves the people of the Colin. The car park is there for local businesses and local people and not for spinning wheels or drifting.
“People are going about their daily lives, and should not be being stuck in a convoy along the Stewartstown Road. It is the last thing we need or want.
“Our community is not the place for this type of gathering. Over the years too many have lost their lives along this road through speeding and dangerous driving.
“This proposed gathering is simply not acceptable.”
Advertisement
The PSNI has been contacted for a response.
In an earlier Facebook post, a spokesperson for Police West Belfast said: “We are aware of a planned cruise/diffing event tonight on the Stewartstown Road, and that any anti-social driving, or reckless driving will not be tolerated, and will met with swift action and enforcement.
“This kind of driving behaviour where large crowds may gather is dangerous, and those keen on taking part are advised not to.
“We would ask all road users to ensure their vehicles are road worthy, follow the rules of the road and drive with care and attention always.”
Marc Guehi had been almost immaculate in his City career. Until that point. But Donnarumma made a major error against Arsenal and it did not cost City. Guehi must hope that he, too, is spared by a winner.
(Getty)
Richard Jolly, at the Hill Dickinson Stadium4 May 2026 21:31
Advertisement
GOAL! Everton 1-1 Man City (BARRY 69′
HANG ON! THE GOAL STANDS! BARRY PUNISHES GUEHI’S BACK-PASS!
Wow! Drama. So, we need a rules expert to explain this. Barry was offside originally. But Guehi played on and made a deliberate attempt to pass back, which started a new phase of play. Barry is therefore onside again, and beats Donnarumma to equalise!
A huge moment in the title race.
Jamie Braidwood4 May 2026 21:28
Advertisement
NO GOAL! Everton 0-1 Man City
69 mins: Everton have the ball in the net! But Guehi’s blushes are spared as Barry was offside!
Jamie Braidwood4 May 2026 21:28
Advertisement
Everton 0-1 Man City
65 mins: SAVE! Huge stop from Donnarumma! It’s a mess at the back from City, with Nunes and Khusanov getting in each other’s way. It’s breaks to Ndiaye but Donnarumma makes himself big and the Everton forward hits it straight at him!
Jamie Braidwood4 May 2026 21:24
Everton 0-1 Man City
64 mins: CHANGE! A game where Barry comes on for Beto. As opposed to the games when Beto comes on for Barry.
Advertisement
(Reuters)
Richard Jolly4 May 2026 21:23
Everton 0-1 Man City
63 mins: This feels… in the balance. Everton have encouragement and Man City have not exactly looked like they are able to put them away.
Jamie Braidwood4 May 2026 21:22
Advertisement
Everton 0-1 Man City
60 mins: SAVE! Lovely play from Ndiaye as he leads a counter-attack, and a good advantage from referee Oliver as there was a pull. The forward forces a low stop from Donnarumma before Bernardo clears, with no one in blue there to follow in.
Jamie Braidwood4 May 2026 21:20
Everton 0-1 Man City
58 mins: Haaland leads a City break and manages to stay on his feet following contact from Garner from behind. Everton manage to stop the counter.
Advertisement
Jamie Braidwood4 May 2026 21:17
Everton 0-1 Man City
53 mins: Tarkowski catches Haaland from behind after the striker was slipped in and picks up a yellow card. The Everton captain disagrees with the decision.
Jamie Braidwood4 May 2026 21:12
Advertisement
Everton 0-1 Man City
51 mins: City’s physios were looking at Semenyo’s neck after that landing but the forward is back on and able to continue. A sloppy touch from Cherki leads to a sight of goal for Dewsbury-Hall but he fires over.
Gibbs-White and Sanchez’s collision did not produce the only head injuries of the day. Chelsea debutant Jesse Derry, 18, was knocked out cold after knocking heads with Zach Abbott. Both were substituted, with the former was hospitalised for precautionary checks. Chelsea have confirmed, however, that he is conscious and speaking.
For years the group has sat behind the scenes as the owner of Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and London taxi maker LEVC. Now it wants a slice of the action in its own right with this all‑electric C‑segment SUV.
The EX5 had already been launched in 33 countries by the time it arrived here late last year as the spearhead of an ambitious plan. Geely is targeting 100,000 annual UK sales by 2030, alongside a wider European push that will see 15 new models rolled out over the next five years.
Geely EX5 Max (Image: Newsquest)
That sounds like the sort of bold claim we’ve heard before from new‑to‑the‑UK brands, but the EX5 doesn’t feel like a half‑baked toe in the water.
On paper, it’s pitching straight into the heart of the market as a mid‑size family SUV, with the external footprint of something like a VW ID.4 but pricing more in line with smaller mainstream EVs.
Advertisement
There’s only one battery size – 60.2kWh – and a single‑motor, front‑wheel‑drive layout. It develops 215bhp and can go from 0-62 mph in 7.1 seconds, with smooth and linear power delivery.
Geely EX5 Max (Image: Newsquest)
That’s swift enough, but the EX5 generally feels very much set up for a gentle life rather than back‑road thrills.
It’s not especially sporty, and the steering is light and rather remote, so keen drivers won’t find much to engage with here.
Where the car feels more at home is in everyday use – commuting, school runs and a steady cruise on the M62 or M1 – where its easy-going character comes to the fore and it proves a quiet, relaxing way to travel.
Advertisement
Geely is going for value, space and a hefty standard kit list. There are three trim levels – SE, Pro and Max.
Geely EX5 Max (Image: Newsquest)
Inside, the EX5 makes a strong first impression. The cabin quality is genuinely impressive for a sub‑£40,000 SUV, with soft‑touch plastics, convincing artificial leather and neat patterned trim that give it a decidedly upmarket flavour. In higher‑spec versions you get toys such as heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, a big panoramic glass roof and a powerful branded stereo.
Space is another strong card. Rear legroom is excellent, with a flat floor and generous space for adults to stretch out. The compromise comes in the boot, which is smaller than those of several key rivals.
Dominating the dashboard is a 15.4‑inch touchscreen, which controls almost everything from navigation to heating. It looks sharp, the graphics are crisp and the system responds quickly, but it’s not without its frustrations. Too many core functions are buried a couple of presses deep in sub‑menus, and the native satnav can lag slightly behind your true position.
Advertisement
With its 60.2kWh battery and single‑motor set‑up, the EX5 offers a claimed range in the mid‑200s miles depending on trim, which is broadly in line with similarly priced rivals. In mixed real‑world use you can expect something in that ballpark if you’re not heavy‑footed, and the car supports DC rapid charging at competitive speeds. What you don’t get is the option of a bigger battery pack, and that does limit its appeal for drivers who routinely cover big distances between charges.
Charging is one of the EX5’s stronger suits for the sort of medium‑range use it’s aimed at.
On a proper rapid charger, the EX5 will go from about 10% to 80% in roughly half an hour,
Taken as Geely’s opening statement to British buyers, the EX5 is a quietly convincing piece of work. It is smooth and undemanding to drive, the cabin looks and feels more upmarket than the price might suggest, and rear‑seat space in particular is excellent.
Coronation Street has confirmed six suspects will face questioning over Theo Silverton’s murder, but with the killer set to be revealed in the coming months did any of them kill him?
Fans wondering who killed Theo Silverton on Coronation Street could soon find out, ahead of the truth being revealed in the coming months.
Advertisement
The ITV soap has revealed six suspects who will face interrogation over Theo’s death. It’s revealed to be murder after his body was found last week.
After Monday’s episode saw people acting weirdly, and some clearly hiding something, the soap has named six characters to keep an eye on. They have been officially dubbed the suspects, and they will all be quizzed by Kit Green and Lisa Swain.
Interestingly though, the release does not say any of the six are definitely the killer. The soap has deliberately called them suspects who “face the heat” as police try to figure out who died.
It’s said that over the next month, Kit and Lisa ask questions and search for evidence as things reach “breaking point”. As the pressure mounts, all will be revealed.
The named suspects include Summer Spellman, Christina Boyd, George Shuttleworth, Todd Grimshaw, Gary Windass and Danielle Silverton. The first three to be interrogated are are Theo’s partner Todd, George and Gary.
Advertisement
In the coming weeks the investigation shifts, and pulled in for questioning are Summer, Christina and Danielle. As lies are exposed, and arrests are made, it’s yet to be revealed if any of the six are actually the murderer.
It feels like it’s all cleverly worded to keep us guessing. So is the list of six a red herring and is someone else to blame? Or will all become clear very soon, resulting in one of these six being outed as the killer.
They all have motives, and upcoming scenes will reveal why they are a suspect. Todd was being abused by Theo, and the night Theo died he was trying to hunt Todd down – so did he find him?
For Summer, the last time we saw Theo alive was when he trapped her in the flat alone. So did Summer kill Theo? Gary was acting weirdly about Theo’s death to Kit on Monday.
We know Gary had threatened him and the pair had clashed, and he’s also killed before. Did Gary take revenge? George also stood up to Theo, and on the night of the murder he was alone at home.
Did he sneak out and kill Theo, and does this explain his change of clothing? George’s partner Christina left him alone to go and find a shaken Todd who was hiding from Theo. But with a storyline coming up for her and her clearly hiding something, will it be that she killed Theo?
Finally there’s Theo’s ex-wife Danielle. She was also acting suspiciously on Monday and upcoming scenes tease her marriage faced it’s troubles. So might she have killed her violent ex?
They will be at Nationwide branches to offer tailored support and guidance.
Dementia UK will share advice on how to look after yourself as a carer at free clinics in East Kilbride and Motherwell.
Advertisement
Dementia specialist Admiral Nurses will be at the towns’ Nationwide branch to offer tailored support and guidance.
The clinics will offer practical and emotional advice on all aspects of dementia – from worries about symptoms through to getting a diagnosis and understanding how it can progress.
And the clinics in will be in the Nationwide branch at East Kilbride’s Princes Mall on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 26 and 27.
They will also be at thebranch on Motherwell’s Muir Street on Wednesday, May 6.
Advertisement
Dementia UK said: “If you care for someone who has dementia or live with the diagnosis yourself, you can book a free 45-minute face-to-face appointment with a dementia specialist Admiral Nurse for expert, tailored support, whatever your questions or concerns.
“All appointments are confidential and will take place in a private space within the branch.”
When Tyler Chambers tells me that his birth year is 2005 – I tell him, it makes me feel old. He replies that he gets that a lot. In fact, when he decided to stand for election to the Senedd, he expected that would be the main thing people would say when he knocked on their doors.
Yet, he rattles off a range of jobs and experience far beyond his years. He’s been a paper (and milk) delivery boy and worked in the local chippy. When his dad, a builder, was made redundant, the pair set up a garden and property business.
If he isn’t campaigning, he’s studying, and if not that, he’s on his dad’s smallholding, in the shed helping with his Dorset sheep.
Advertisement
But now, some polls are projecting Tyler Chambers’ next role could see him elected to the Senedd, likely as its youngest member, and potentially one of a few Conservatives who could be left standing, if the polls are correct.
Various pollsters have, this election campaign, suggested the party could drop to a single seat – or gather a handful of seats, depending on the decisions of the Welsh electorate.
Born in Rhayader, his parents split up when he was young, and he grew up living with his mum on the Maes y Brenin council estate. She works as a hairdresser in Rhayader. It’s safe to say, he admits, lots of the people he has speaking to on the campaign know about him through her.
He went to Rhayader Primary School, and then Llandrindod Wells High School, but when the A-levels he wanted weren’t available in Powys, he decided to go to Hereford Sixth Form College to study law, business and politics.
Advertisement
Before even getting the 6.30am bus, he would have already have had to get the 15 minutes by car to the bus stop, arriving in Hereford around 8.30am, returning home on the 6pm service from Hereford – after a day at college.
“That was a bit challenging,” he concedes, “I know loads of students face a similar struggle still.,” he says, saying transport for those in rural communities will be something he will pursue “if I get in”.
As well as campaigning, he is a second year student in Cardiff University, studying sociology and social policy. “But as you can imagine, my top priority now is is Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd, and hopefully representing Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd in the Senedd,” he clarifies.
He had got involved in local activism as teen, knocking doors for people sign a petition to stop the closure of his local youth centre, but his journey into politics came despite the topic being “banned in nearly every room” at home. “Politics came because there was a bit of an issue that I ran into and I thought, ‘Do you know what? Politics can resolve that’.
“It was domestic abuse and seeing the level of support victims don’t necessarily have in difficult circumstances.
“That was my incentive and I thought, ‘you know what, I want to go into it, I want to change the system’.”
Advertisement
He explains that it was learning about “the evidence-led programme which means that minors with evidence can go and present that evidence but they will need permission of a parent” when he was called upon to give evidence.
“I was in a fortunate case where it wasn’t my dad and mum, it was my mum and her partner at the time.
“So if I had needed permission I could have easily got it, but I genuinely thought for other children who need the permission of their parents and that would be really, really, difficult.
“So I got in touch with Fay [Jones, the former Conservative MP for Brecon and Radnorshire] just asking for support and when I got a response I got to be excited so I asked ‘can I do a week’s work experience?’ I did a week and safe to say just didn’t leave.”
Advertisement
Making a difference to people, is, he says his biggest motivation.
“It’s the difference you can actually make and whether that is getting someone’s bins collected, or one of the cases was a dropped kerb, because this girl, in a wheelchair, wanted to play with her friends in the park, which she wasn’t able to do.
“Whatever the issue is, it’s life changing to that individual. To us it might be a big issue, it might be a small issue, but the fact is, the constituent has got in touch with you and they’ve used all the other resources and there’s no one else.
“They’ve come to you because they think that you get the job done. I think it’s rewarding when you do help out people,” he says.
Advertisement
One of those in his party had already praised to me the hours he is putting into the campaign, he seems to have, incredible drive
“I think it was my upbringing that shaped me,” he says.
“I had really good encouraging parents and whatever I wanted to do whether it was when I had my stint of playing rugby, and I really enjoyed playing rugby, they were always there on the sidelines cheering me on.
Advertisement
“I do have a lot of drive and ambition, and if I see something that needs to be done, I just want to get it done,” he says.
Seeing Fay Jones lose her seat in 2024 when his party were wiped out in Wales, and then James Evans be sacked from the Tories before his defection to Reform UK, he has seen the messy side of politics. He knows the polls look bad for his party and isn’t going into any of this with his eyes closed.
“Despite all of that, myself and a small team have been out every single day since being selected as the lead candidate and I think it is because it’s that drive of the reward that we can make and the difference that we could make.
“Growing up in Radnorshire all my life, you see the things that aren’t necessarily working, things that need improving, I think that’s the biggest drive.
Advertisement
“You see the difference politics can make, eah, you have difficult conversations on the doorstep, you get the occasional door slammed in your face, and the other day I woke up to a really nasty message on my Facebook, but then I go knock on a door, and, one of the constituents has got an issue that I can actually make a difference with, and I can contact the minister, and say, ‘look, this is the situation, let’s work together, and what can we do to resolve the problem’.
“A lot of it can be resolved, but it just takes a lot of hard work, and I think that’s what I hope I can provide,” he says.
As we speak, he’s taking a break from campaigning in Presteigne, and despite the grilling he’d just had in the Radnorshire Arms he’s about to go back, with more leaflets, and enough time for a quick sandwich.
“The polls don’t reflect what we’re hearing on the ground. I’ve been right across the constituency over the past few weeks and where other parties have just delivered leaflets, we’re knocking on the doors and that makes an impact. But when we are knocking on those traditional Conservatives [doors], they’re saying, ‘yeah, we’ll stick with the Conservatives’.
Advertisement
“When we have knocked on doors of people who were voting Reform in 2024, they’ve now came back to us, whether that’s because they’ve seen the Reform group in Westminster or what not, there are a variety of reasons why people are coming back to us,” he says.
This new constituency starts just shy of Ludlow and goes right down to the Swansea Bay.
I tell him that candidates in a city measure their campaign by how many steps they’ve done a day, and pairs of shoes they’ve gone through, with a patch that vast, his Ford Fiesta’s mileage is his benchmark, that and the £10 shoes he grabbed in Tesco one day because the Sketchers he’d invested in weren’t comfy enough.
With just days to go until the polling stations in his vast patch open, how is he feeling?
Advertisement
“It is excitement,” he says, “but we’re not taking votes for granted. The polls are all over the place at the moment and I’m just going into this election thinking, as long as we get to 10 o’clock on polling day, and can think we’ve done the best we could.”
You must be logged in to post a comment Login