United Kingdom

UK economy is under strain: long-term borrowing costs hit a 28-year high and sterling slumped after Starmer's political future came into doubt. BP fired chair Albert Manifold over governance concerns, while the government diluted Russian oil sanctions to avert a jet fuel crisis caused by the Strait of Hormuz closure. HSBC reported a profit miss on $400 million in fraud charges, and Shell is exiting the French fuel retail market.

• 16BP fires chair Albert Manifold over serious governance concerns
• 9UK waters down Russian oil sanctions amid jet fuel crisis brought on by Strait of Hormuz closure
• 9Long-term UK borrowing costs rise to highest since 1998, sterling slumps as Starmer's future in doubt
• 8HSBC Profit Misses on $400M Fraud-Related Charges
• 5Shell and INEOS Strike Gulf of Mexico Exploration Deal - Crude Oil Prices Today

Prime Minister Starmer is fighting for his political survival after Labour suffered heavy losses in the May local elections. Multiple Labour MPs and allied unions have called for his resignation, and a leadership challenge is possible; Starmer has vowed to fight on. The crisis has dominated the period, with no other political actor emerging as a clear alternative.

• 58UK PM Starmer faces growing calls to resign after local election losses
• 39Chris Mason: Another crunch moment for Starmer as he pleads with Labour MPs not to topple him
• 35Starmer faces possible leadership challenge, vows to fight on
• 29Labour-supporting unions predict Starmer will not lead party into next election
• 29Starmer refuses to resign after poor Labour result

UK faces multiple security threats: Russian warplanes repeatedly intercepted an RAF spy plane over the Black Sea, and GCHQ accused Russia of reckless assassination attempts. Iran-linked plots emerged, including a stabbing of a journalist in London and US charges against an Iraqi targeting Jews from London to Los Angeles. The UK deployed a warship and drones to the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran conflict.

• 11Man convicted of attempting terror attack at Israeli embassy in London
• 10Russian warplanes ‘repeatedly’ intercepted RAF spy plane over Black Sea
• 9UK sends warship to Middle East for potential Hormuz mission
• 8Romanians stabbed journalist in London at behest of Iran, UK court told
• 7Tube strikes: Full list of dates and lines affected in May walkout on London Underground

Society is polarized over antisemitism: tens of thousands marched in rival pro-Palestine and far-right protests in London, while separate rallies against antisemitism drew thousands. The Duke of Sussex expressed concern over rising antisemitism, and police charged two men for filming antisemitic TikTok videos. A heatwave also hit the UK, with record May temperatures.

• 29Tens of thousands march in London for rival pro-Palestine and far-right protests
• 7UK set to break record for hottest May day
• 6UK reels under heat as residents urged to seek shade
• 6Duke of Sussex concerned by 'deeply troubling' rise in UK antisemitism
• 6British paratroopers lead airdrop onto Tristan da Cunha for suspected hantavirus case