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Iran Demands End to US Strikes Before Nuclear Talks Can Resume Iran will not return to diplomatic negotiations with the United States unless Washington commits to halting further military strikes, the country’s deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi has told the BBC. His comments follow a period of escalating conflict between Iran, Israel, and the US, which included American airstrikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities. Takht-Ravanchi said the Trump administration had sent messages through intermediaries expressing a desire to resume talks, but had failed to clarify whether it would refrain from further attacks during any negotiation process. “Right now we are seeking an answer to this question: are we going to see a repetition of an act of aggression while we are engaging in dialogue?” he asked. “What they are going to offer us in order to make the necessary confidence required for such a dialogue” remained unclear, he said. The situation deteriorated rapidly after Israel launched a surprise military operation on June 13, targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites and assassinating key figures. The attack derailed a planned sixth round of mostly indirect talks that were scheduled for Muscat two days later. In response, Iran fired missiles at Israel, and hostilities continued for 12 days, during which the United States bombed Iran’s Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites. The deputy minister reaffirmed Iran’s right to enrich uranium, insisting the programme was for peaceful research purposes. “We have been denied access to nuclear material,” he said, “so needed to rely on ourselves.” He added, “The level of that can be discussed, the capacity can be discussed, but to say that you should not have enrichment, you should have zero enrichment, and if you do not agree, we will bomb you — that is the law of the jungle.” Tensions between Iran and the IAEA have also worsened. Iran’s parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the agency, accusing it of siding with Israel and the United States. Takht-Ravanchi said Iran had no reason to consider altering its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief or investment. “Why should we agree to such a proposal?” he asked. He reiterated that uranium enrichment to 60% was for non-military purposes. Under the 2015 nuclear agreement, Iran was restricted to enrichment levels of 3.67% and prohibited from conducting any enrichment at its Fordo plant for 15 years. But after Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018, citing its failure to block Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon, Iran began violating its terms. By 2021, Iran had resumed enrichment at Fordo and, according to the IAEA, accumulated enough 60%-enriched uranium to potentially construct nine nuclear bombs. He also said the US had conveyed, again via intermediaries, that it was not attempting to carry out regime change in Iran by targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called for Iranians to overthrow the clerical regime, Trump has recently denied supporting such an outcome. Takht-Ravanchi dismissed the idea, calling it “a futile exercise,” and warned that foreign aggression would only unite the Iranian people, despite domestic criticism of the government. He concluded by saying the ceasefire with Israel remained fragile but would be respected “as long as there is no military attack against us.” Gulf Arab nations, especially Qatar, have reportedly played an active role in facilitating the ceasefire. “We do not want war,” he said. “We want to engage in dialogue and diplomacy, but we have to be prepared, we have to be cautious, not to be surprised again.” Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-07-01

Starmer worst start of any new PM, says polling guru Keir Starmer has endured what polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice describes as “the worst start for any newly elected prime minister, Labour or Conservative.” A year into office, the Labour leader finds himself under intense scrutiny, facing sliding poll numbers, policy reversals, and mounting questions about his direction and leadership. Speaking to Times Radio, Curtice was blunt in his assessment. “Voters still don’t know what [Starmer] stands for,” he said. “He must paint a picture of the country he wants to create.” According to Curtice, Starmer's government has witnessed the steepest decline in public support for any newly elected British administration, with Labour currently polling at just 24 percent. Starmer himself admitted to several missteps in a series of interviews reflecting on his first year. In an interview with The Sunday Times, he acknowledged being slow to grasp the intensity of public reaction to his government’s welfare reforms, attributing the lapse to a necessary focus on international affairs. “I take ownership of all my decisions,” he said. He also expressed regret for using the phrase “island of strangers” during a speech on immigration, a term later criticized for echoing Enoch Powell’s notorious rhetoric on race and immigration. “I wouldn’t have gone near it if I had known,” Starmer said. “I didn’t know that was used by Powell. If I’d known that, I would never have said it.” While the prime minister has sought to own up to his mistakes, his leadership has faced renewed questions, particularly after being forced into three policy U-turns in two months. Curtice noted, “Apologies rarely help. U-turns can suggest a lack of direction, which is already one of this government’s biggest problems.” Dissent is also bubbling within Starmer’s party. The Telegraph reported that more than 40 MPs may push to soften policies such as the inheritance tax for farmers and the controversial two-child benefit cap. Despite this, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has come to Starmer’s defense, praising his willingness to admit fault. “I admire a leader who has the courage and humility to admit that he’s not perfect and that his government’s made mistakes,” Streeting told the BBC. “By the prime minister’s own admission, I think there are things that we haven’t got entirely right in government.” Streeting also highlighted Starmer’s international achievements, noting his efforts to “bridge Europe and America to tackle conflict” and his role in brokering trade deals that have “literally saved thousands of jobs.” He added that public service reform and anti-poverty measures were already under way, though he acknowledged the public's skepticism. “Until people start feeling that change I don’t expect the public to give the prime minister, me or anyone else a pat on the back for a job well done.” Speculation around a future leadership contest is simmering, with both Streeting and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner often named as potential successors. Streeting, however, dismissed such talk as “mischief making.” “The fact is that we have got in Keir Starmer a prime minister who is delivering real change in our country,” he told Sky News. Rayner also denied any leadership ambitions. Yet, according to The Mail on Sunday, some of her allies believe she could be the next Labour leader. One ally reportedly said, “I think Angela will be the leader. After next year’s Welsh and local elections, if Starmer does not stand down, he will face a challenge. People have just had enough and Keir is gravely wounded.” Others close to Rayner, however, insist she remains focused on her current government duties. As Starmer enters his second year in office, the pressure is mounting not just to hold the party together, but to define clearly what his leadership means — and where it is headed. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-07-01

Shadow War: How Israel Crippled Iran’s Nuclear Brain Trust In a string of precisely coordinated attacks, Israel has dealt a major blow to Iran’s nuclear weapons program, targeting the scientists behind its most sensitive work. In what was internally dubbed “Operation Narnia,” Israeli operatives launched a pre-dawn assault on June 13 that killed nine top Iranian nuclear scientists in near-simultaneous strikes. The victims were long-time veterans of Tehran’s secret nuclear program, and the aim, according to sources familiar with the operation, was to eliminate them before they could disappear underground. The attacks culminated a 15-year Israeli campaign to erode Iran’s nuclear capabilities by surgically removing its most valuable human assets—scientists with decades of technical experience. Just eleven days later, hours before a U.S. and Qatar-brokered ceasefire came into effect, another strike in northern Iran killed Sayyed Seddighi Saber, a scientist who had been sanctioned by the U.S. weeks earlier for nuclear weapons-related activities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed these killings have set Iran’s nuclear program back by years. While assessments of the physical damage to nuclear infrastructure are ongoing, experts and former officials agree that eliminating this caliber of talent—those with hands-on knowledge of warhead components like detonation systems and neutron triggers—has a more immediate and profound effect. “It’s one thing to lose that expertise slowly over time,” said Eric Brewer, former U.S. national security director for counterproliferation. “But if you’re in the middle of trying to build a bomb or if you see that as a potential near-term option, then it’s going to have a bigger impact.” Although Iran insists its nuclear ambitions are peaceful, the United Nations’ atomic agency has confirmed that Iran maintained a weapons-related program, the AMAD project, until 2003. Since then, Western intelligence believes Iran’s nuclear weapons development has continued in fragmented form, largely through computer modeling and research designed to appear conventional. In the wake of the June 13 attacks, Israel also deployed a drone to kill another unnamed scientist in Tehran, supposedly hidden in a secure location. Israel additionally claimed responsibility for striking the headquarters of SPND—the AMAD project’s successor. These were the first direct killings of Iranian nuclear scientists since 2020, when Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated using a remote-controlled weapon. Between 2010 and 2020, five other scientists were killed under circumstances widely attributed to Israel, though never officially acknowledged. Among those reportedly targeted was Fereydoon Abbasi-Devani, former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization and a central figure in Iran’s nuclear weapons efforts. “If they tell me to build a bomb, I will build it,” he declared recently on Iranian television. Abbasi-Devani survived an assassination attempt in 2010. Another target was Mohammad Mehdi Teranchi, a U.S.-sanctioned scientist who led high explosives research under Fakhrizadeh and later taught at Tehran’s Shahid Beheshti University—a hub for nuclear talent. Sayyed Seddighi Saber, the final known victim, headed the Shahid Karimi Group, a unit under SPND responsible for explosives research. “Seddighi Saber is linked to projects including research and testing applicable to the development of nuclear explosive devices,” the U.S. Treasury Department said in its May 12 sanctions. Andrea Stricker of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies said Israel’s campaign had removed the “brain trust” of Iran’s nuclear program. “It dealt a blow to Iran’s ability to draw on people who have past and possibly ongoing experience in constructing specific components of nuclear weapons.” Yet others caution that Iran has invested heavily in preserving and transferring this knowledge. It has developed a distributed, resilient network of universities and institutions—including Shahid Beheshti, Sharif University of Technology, and Malek Ashtar University—where senior scientists mentor younger protégés. Israeli security analyst Ronen Solomon noted that two scientists killed on June 13, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari and Abdulhamid Minouchehr, had just published advanced modeling work on neutron sources—a key part of triggering nuclear chain reactions. “There are the professors, and they are teaching the younger scientists… to enter the heart of the Iranian nuclear program,” Solomon said. While Israel’s strikes may have decapitated the current leadership of Iran’s weapons program, the infrastructure to train replacements appears intact. Whether that next generation can fully replace what was lost remains an open and critical question. Related Topics: Iran Acknowledges Major Damage to Nuclear Facilities Amid Strained Diplomacy IAEA Chief Confirms Devastating Blow to Iranian Nuclear Facility Following U.S. Strike After the Bombing: IAEA Chief Calls for Urgent Diplomacy with Iran Amid Nuclear Uncertainty Adapted by ASEAN Now from WSJ 2025-07-01

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Trump Rides High on Series of Major Victories, Despite Tax Bill Turbulence President Donald Trump wrapped up a dramatic and politically charged week with a string of victories that energized his base and reshaped headlines at home and abroad. What began with an angry, profanity-laced rant on the White House lawn over ceasefire concerns in the Middle East ended with a confident Trump hosting back-to-back press conferences, celebrating what he described as a “tremendous” run of success. Among the high points was a U.S. military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, which Trump labeled “unbelievable.” The bombing campaign, launched on June 21, was followed days later by what the president called a “complete and total” ceasefire in what he dubbed the “12-day war” between Israel and Iran. Despite initial instability—including a ballistic missile attack from Iran on a U.S. base in Qatar and immediate violations of the ceasefire agreement—Trump claimed personal credit for bringing about calm, saying he had to “narrowly” persuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt further military action. The success of the strike, paired with the fragile truce, allowed Trump to declare himself a “peacemaker,” bolstering his diplomatic credentials at a time when conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine remain unresolved. On the international stage, Trump also found affirmation at the NATO summit in the Netherlands. The mood shifted from formal diplomacy to personal camaraderie when NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte jokingly referred to Trump as “Daddy,” a term linked to his role in brokering the Middle East ceasefire. Trump embraced the nickname with glee, telling reporters, “I think he likes me. If he doesn’t... I’ll come back and hit him hard.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio, standing nearby, struggled to contain his laughter. The White House quickly capitalized on the moment, posting videos captioned “daddy’s home” that portrayed Trump as the commanding figure of international affairs. Another major boost came from the U.S. Supreme Court, which issued a ruling that curtailed the power of federal judges to impose nationwide injunctions on executive orders. The case centered around Trump’s effort to revoke birthright citizenship from children of certain immigrants, but the implications were broad. Attorney General Pam Bondi hailed the decision as a victory against the “endless barrage” of legal challenges stalling the president’s agenda. Trump celebrated at an impromptu press conference, calling the ruling a “monumental victory for the constitution, the separation of powers, and the rule of law.” The court’s decision is expected to pave the way for controversial policies previously blocked by lower courts, including cutting funds to “sanctuary cities,” halting refugee resettlement, and ending taxpayer support for gender-affirming surgeries. “This was a tremendous win, and we’ve had tremendous wins,” Trump declared. “But this was a tremendous win today.” Trump capped the week with a diplomatic meeting at the White House where the foreign ministers of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a peace agreement to end decades of conflict. Though details of the deal remain unclear and skepticism lingers given past failures, Trump called it a “generational victory” and noted that the agreement would give the U.S. access to valuable mineral rights in the region. “I was able to get them together and sell it,” he said. “And not only that, we’re getting for the United States a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo.” However, not all went according to plan. Trump’s top legislative ambition—a sweeping tax reform package he’s dubbed the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill”—hit procedural snags when Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that key provisions violated Senate rules. Billions in proposed cuts now hang in the balance. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tried to downplay the setback, saying, “This is part of the process... But the president is adamant about seeing this bill on his desk here at the White House by Independence Day.” Despite the hiccup, Trump ended the week smiling, basking in applause and headlines that, for once, seemed to align with his ambitions. Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-06-30

Tehran Erupts in Grief and Defiance at Funeral for Fallen Commanders and Scientists Thousands of Iranians flooded the streets of Tehran in a powerful and emotionally charged funeral procession for senior military commanders and nuclear scientists killed during the country’s 12-day conflict with Israel. Amid a wave of national mourning, loud chants of “death to America” and “death to Israel” echoed across the capital as coffins were paraded through the streets on trucks decorated with rose petals, photographs, and Iranian flags. The funeral convoy moved through Tehran to Azadi Square, carrying the remains of high-ranking officials, including General Hossein Salami, commander of the Revolutionary Guard, and General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Guard’s ballistic missile program. Iranian state media confirmed that at least 16 nuclear scientists and 10 senior commanders were among the dead. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the procession along with other notable figures, including Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to the Supreme Leader who was seriously wounded during the fighting. While the Supreme Leader himself was not seen in state broadcasts of the funeral, the President offered a heartfelt tribute to the massive turnout. "From the bottom of my heart, I thank you dear people," President Pezeshkian wrote on social media. "With love, you bid farewell to the martyrs of our homeland, and our voice of unity reached the ears of the world." The mass funeral served not only as a national farewell to prominent figures but also as a defiant statement of resilience. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged the emotional toll of the conflict and the loss of life, calling the deaths “hard and painful.” He appeared to reference the devastating Israeli airstrikes that preceded the ceasefire. “Institution and structures, however important and valuable, return with new glory and greater strength over time, even if it takes years,” Araghchi said, striking a tone of long-term resistance and recovery. The nearly two-week war with Israel inflicted heavy casualties on both sides. Iran’s health ministry reported 610 deaths, including 13 children and 49 women. On the Israeli side, their health ministry stated that 28 people were killed and 3,238 injured during Iranian attacks. Israel has claimed responsibility for the deaths of approximately 30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists during the course of its military operations, figures that align with the names honored during the public funeral. While the ceasefire has temporarily halted hostilities, the scale and symbolism of the funeral make clear that tensions remain deeply rooted and unresolved. For many Iranians, the procession was not only about honoring the dead, but also sending a message of defiance, unity, and enduring resistance on the world stage. Adapted by ASEAN Now from Sky News 2025-06-30

Norwegian Royal Scandal: Crown Princess’s Son Charged with Rape and Assault Amid Growing Allegations Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault in what authorities have described as a case involving a “double-digit number” of alleged victims. The 28-year-old, who is also the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, now finds himself at the center of a serious and highly publicized investigation shaking Norway’s royal family. The charges, announced Friday by Oslo police, include one count of rape involving intercourse, two counts of rape without intercourse, four cases of sexual assault, and two instances of bodily harm. “I cannot go into further detail about the number of victims in the case beyond confirming that it is a double-digit number,” said Oslo Police Attorney Andreas Kruszewski. The royal, once affectionately dubbed “Little Marius,” has been arrested several times throughout 2024 as more individuals have come forward with accusations. According to authorities, the case against Høiby has been built not only on interviews but also on electronic evidence, including text messages. Despite cooperating with the investigation during questioning, Høiby “doesn’t acknowledge any wrongdoing in most of the cases – especially the cases regarding sexual abuse and violence,” his defense attorney stated. For now, Høiby remains free pending a potential trial. The Norwegian royal palace has declined to comment, telling the national newswire NTB that the case will proceed according to “normal procedures.” Though not in the direct line of succession and holding no official royal title, Marius Borg Høiby has long lived under public scrutiny due to his family ties. He is the son of Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and grew up within the royal household alongside Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. His defense lawyer noted that while Høiby no longer resides in the royal home, he continues to live in close proximity. Høiby’s personal history has also come under renewed examination. He has previously spoken openly about his struggles with substance abuse, particularly cocaine addiction. His biological father, Morten Borg, has a criminal past, including time served for drug and violent offenses. The case marks an extraordinary chapter for Norway’s royal family, which has largely avoided scandal in recent decades. The gravity and scale of the charges have sparked widespread public and media attention, not only because of Høiby’s royal connections but also due to the serious nature of the allegations and the number of individuals reportedly involved. As investigations continue and the judicial process unfolds, Norway awaits further developments in a case that could have long-lasting ramifications for both its legal system and its royal institution. Adapted by ASEAN Now from NYP 2025-06-30

Russia Presses Toward Pokrovsk with 110,000 Troops Amid Stalemate, Kyiv Warns Russia has concentrated a formidable force of 110,000 troops near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, according to Ukraine’s top military commander, as Moscow continues its drawn-out campaign to seize full control of the Donetsk region. General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine’s military chief, described Pokrovsk as the “hottest spot” along the 1,200-kilometre front line stretching across eastern Ukraine. Despite a year of continuous offensives, Russian forces have yet to break through and claim the city. “The enemy’s capture of Pokrovsk, announced back in September 2024, has not yet taken place, thanks in part to our Kursk operation,” Syrskyi said. Pokrovsk holds strategic significance for both sides in the war. Though not a major urban center, its location on a key supply road and rail line makes it critical for logistics and military coordination. Before Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Pokrovsk had a population of approximately 60,000. Most residents have since fled, particularly after Ukraine’s last functioning coking coal mine in the city was shut down earlier this year. Its closure prompted even more departures, as the workers who had remained to keep the mine running also left. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that a primary objective of the war is to fully capture the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where Russian forces already hold significant territory. Kyiv and Western allies believe Moscow is intentionally dragging out negotiations in an attempt to seize more land through military force. “[The Russians] want to do this not only to achieve some operational results, but primarily for demonstrative purposes,” Syrskyi said. “To achieve a psychological effect: to put the infamous ‘foot of the Russian soldier’ there, plant a flag and trumpet another pseudo-‘victory.’” According to the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukraine’s resistance in Pokrovsk has forced Moscow to revise its original strategy. A planned frontal assault on the city was abandoned in favor of a gradual encirclement from the south and northeast. The ISW attributed this shift to the increasing effectiveness of Ukrainian drone warfare, noting that Kyiv’s forces have integrated drone operators directly with infantry units to strengthen their defensive posture. While Russian troops possess numerical and equipment advantages, they have faced logistical limits in increasing their presence around Pokrovsk. One factor cited was Ukraine’s surprise cross-border incursion into Russia’s southern Kursk region, which temporarily diverted some 63,000 Russian troops and 7,000 North Korean fighters away from eastern Ukraine. “This allowed us to weaken the enemy’s pressure on the main fronts and regroup our troops,” Syrskyi explained. In their latest analysis, ISW reported that Russian assaults continue in the region, often executed by small fireteams—sometimes only one or two soldiers—using unconventional vehicles such as motorcycles, buggies, and all-terrain vehicles. These tactics suggest a shift toward more mobile, flexible attacks in an attempt to find vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s layered defenses. Despite mounting pressure, Pokrovsk remains under Ukrainian control, a symbol of resistance in a grinding conflict where victories are measured in meters rather than miles. Whether Russia can maintain its current level of troop concentration, or Ukraine can continue to hold out amid a prolonged war of attrition, remains uncertain. Adapted by ASEAN Now from CNN 2025-06-30

Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, has once again landed himself in hot water with a deeply out-of-touch response to concerns about unequal treatment under the British justice system. Speaking to the BBC this week, Hermer dismissed the notion of “two-tier justice”—the belief that ethnic minorities are treated more favourably than the white working class—as “frankly disgusting” and “offensive” to police, prosecutors, and courts. According to him, politicians “need to get behind” the justice system rather than “seek to undermine it.” Such a sweeping dismissal only serves to reinforce the public’s belief that their legitimate concerns are being ignored. The perception of unfairness has grown especially strong since the government’s heavy-handed response to last summer’s Southport unrest. Hermer appears blind to the widespread anger and frustration over what many see as stark disparities in how the state handles civil unrest depending on the community involved. In defending the apparent inconsistency, Hermer attempted to draw a distinction between the Southport unrest, where officers were attacked, and London’s Gaza marches, which he claimed were “not producing violence” despite being “awash with anti-Semitism.” But his argument completely misses the point. No one is suggesting violent offenders should escape justice. The real issue lies in how the state appears far more aggressive in confronting unrest in white working-class areas than in others. Just weeks before Southport erupted, the streets of Harehills, Leeds, saw a police car overturned and a bus set ablaze. Rather than confront the violence, officers reportedly retreated. And while Southport saw swift and aggressive policing, other groups appeared to operate with near impunity. In Birmingham on August 5, armed Muslim mobs took to the streets, ostensibly to “protect their communities.” The result? A pub was attacked, and a man outside suffered a lacerated liver. Yet these incidents did not trigger the same zero-tolerance approach. What has most inflamed public outrage, however, is the crackdown on online speech. One of the most notable cases is that of Lucy Connolly, who was sentenced to 31 months in prison for a single, nasty tweet posted on the night of the Southport murders—a message she deleted soon after. As revealed by the Telegraph, Lord Hermer personally approved her prosecution for stirring up racial hatred, even though he had the constitutional authority to withhold consent. At the same time, he declined to review lenient sentences for grooming gang members, raising questions about his priorities. Former Attorney General Suella Braverman has stated that she would not have brought the charge against Connolly. “We don’t have a two-tiered justice system,” Hermer insisted. “We have an independent justice system.” But that claim rings hollow to many. Prime Ministerial hopeful Sir Keir Starmer himself politicised the matter by branding those involved in the Southport unrest as “far-Right thugs” from outside the area. Arrest data and a recent report from the police inspectorate have since cast doubt on that assertion. Hermer and other officials also targeted online speech, asserting that it had played a central role in inciting the violence. “You cannot hide behind your keyboard,” Hermer declared. Yet many locals were already enraged by the brutal murders of three children, without any prompting from social media. For Connolly, the state’s heavy-handedness continues. She has been denied temporary release to care for her daughter and her ailing husband—privileges that even convicted murderers have received. “Their intention was always to hammer me,” she told the Telegraph earlier this year. She now alleges cruel treatment behind bars. If Lord Hermer truly believes it's “disgusting” to view such treatment as unfair, he is dangerously out of touch. The public is not convinced by blanket denials of injustice. In fact, as awareness of cases like Connolly’s grows, so does the belief that the system is rigged. A recent YouGov poll shows public confidence in the judiciary at an all-time low, with a four percent rise in those expressing “no confidence at all” since last June. Dismissing these concerns will only deepen the divide. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph 2025-06-30

Just a day after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group, the organisation launched its latest online training session — a “crash course in direct action” — on Zoom. Hosted by a masked activist wrapped in a keffiyeh, the two-and-a-half-hour session brought together a dozen new recruits and one undercover journalist from The Times, all eager to learn how to take part in the group’s campaign of sabotage against companies allegedly complicit in Israel’s military actions. “This is a critical moment in every sense,” the host declared. She admitted that the group was “flummoxed” by the looming terror designation and acknowledged tensions were high. Still, she insisted the campaign of vandalism and criminal damage would “continue as normal.” The training revealed an organisation both highly secretive and brazenly committed to causing significant financial harm — with £5,000 of damage encouraged as a minimum threshold. “We hope you’ll be causing damage of over £5,000,” she told attendees. The more serious the charges, the greater the praise: “My favourite case of all time” involved a lone activist who caused £500,000 of damage at the Arconic aerospace factory in Birmingham — and was acquitted. Legal risks were downplayed. “Don’t be put off” by the potential ten-year sentences, the host said. She claimed most serious charges were often dropped or diluted by prosecutors and pointed to recent jury acquittals of activists accused of criminal damage, including the so-called “Leicester two.” In her view, “the public is on our side.” Even prison time was reframed as a badge of honour. “The resistance continues right the way through to the trial. If you end up in prison, on remand, you can take the resistance into prisons,” the host explained, quoting one jailed member who said, “I am bringing the intifada into the prison.” Nineteen Palestine Action activists are currently incarcerated and referred to as “political prisoners” by the group. Francesca Nadin, one of those celebrated for serving time, told Glastonbury Festival attendees that “everyone who goes to prison becomes more radicalised,” insisting it was “not the end of the world.” Concerns about the personal consequences of activism — criminal records, visa issues, mental health — were acknowledged but ultimately brushed aside. One activist said a conviction had not harmed her career working with vulnerable people, and in fact had improved her job prospects. “As soon as I’ve told them why it is that I’ve got a conviction, they’re like, ‘Please come work for us more,’” she said. Throughout the session, the host stressed the belief that Palestine Action members are morally right. “We are literally the people that are upholding international law,” she said. “We’re not guilty and that’s why we plead not guilty.” Legal advice was informal and offered without liability, with attendees advised to exploit legal aid or crowdfund. One example cited was a book smuggled into prison titled How to Blow Up a Pipeline, which promotes militant climate activism. Beyond its militant messaging, the group offers what it calls a tight-knit support network. Volunteers wait at police stations to assist released members, help recover their property, and attend court hearings. “It’s a really beautiful community,” said the host. “They wave flags, show support, and knit you little Palestine flag hearts.” Financially, Palestine Action insists it does not pay anyone. It accepts donations via its website and claims all legal costs are covered through online crowdfunding. One campaign to oppose the terror proscription raised £150,000 in just four days. In a statement responding to the government’s decision, the group said: “This is an unhinged reaction to an action spraying paint in protest at the UK government arming Israel’s slaughter of the Palestinian people. It is plainly preposterous to rank us with terrorist groups like Isis, National Action and Boko Haram.” Despite the looming ban, the group remains defiant and increasingly emboldened. Its recent break-in at RAF Brize Norton has been followed by plans to target three other military bases. “We’ve actually seen support go through the roof,” the host claimed, thanking attendees for “putting your finger up against the government who are trying to silence us.” Related Topics: How in Just 5 Years The Corbynista Huda Ammori Steered Palestine Action's Militant Campaign Watch: Activists Claim Damage to RAF Military Aircraft in Protest Against Gaza Operations Sabotage Campaign Targets UK Defence Suppliers in Unrelenting Attacks Activists Vandalize Trump’s Turnberry Golf Course in Pro-Palestinian Protest Pro-Palestinian Students Vandalize Cambridge University's Senate House in Gaza Protest Pro-Palestine Activists Vandalize Barclays and JP Morgan Buildings in Leeds Pro-Palestine Mobs Wreck Barclays Banks Across the UK 7 Activists Face Court Alleged Terrorist-Related Actions at Israeli Defence Firm UK Site Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-06-30

Trump Halts Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Tax, Threatens New Tariffs President Donald Trump has abruptly ended all ongoing trade negotiations with Canada, lashing out at the country’s newly implemented digital services tax, which he labeled “egregious” and “a direct and blatant attack on our Country.” The decision was announced via Trump’s Truth Social platform and sent shockwaves through global markets and diplomatic circles. The U.S. president accused Canada of mimicking the European Union in targeting American tech companies, stating, “They are obviously copying the European Union, which has done the same thing, and is currently under discussion with us, also.” The tax, which was passed by the Canadian government last year and is set to be collected starting Monday, applies retroactively to 2022 and targets major U.S. firms such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta. “Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately,” Trump declared. “We will let Canada know the Tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America within the next seven day period. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” The Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, has acknowledged the U.S. announcement but has yet to issue a formal response. Carney’s office told CNN that officials are currently reviewing the situation. The fallout is expected to be significant, as Canada remains one of America’s most crucial economic partners, with two-way goods trade totaling $762 billion last year. The timing of Trump’s decision is particularly dramatic, as both nations had been working toward finalizing a renewed trade agreement by mid-July. That effort followed a tit-for-tat tariff exchange earlier in the year, sparked by disputes over dairy and other agricultural products. Trump reiterated his long-standing frustrations on this front, calling Canada “a very difficult country” to do business with and referencing tariffs on American dairy exports. The markets reacted swiftly and negatively to the news. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq, which had both touched record highs earlier in the day, plummeted following Trump’s statement. The uncertainty surrounding potential U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods has rattled investors already concerned about global trade tensions. Canadian officials have consistently defended the digital services tax, arguing that multinational tech giants should pay their fair share for revenue earned within Canada. Earlier this month, they reaffirmed that the tax would not be withdrawn, even under mounting pressure from Washington. The tax has become politically sensitive, especially after Trump’s previous inflammatory suggestion that the U.S. might annex Canada and make it America’s 51st state—an outlandish claim that outraged Canadians and played a role in Mark Carney’s rise to power. Trump’s abrupt move marks a major disruption in one of the world’s most integrated trade relationships. As Canadian firms prepare for a potential wave of tariffs, and American tech giants brace for millions in retroactive tax bills, the coming days may determine whether this rift deepens or a new diplomatic channel opens to prevent further escalation. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-06-30

ChatGPT Blocks Iranian Influence Campaign Exploiting Scottish Independence Debate A covert Iranian influence operation using artificial intelligence to stoke division in the UK and US has been disrupted by OpenAI. The company behind ChatGPT confirmed that it had cut off access to its tools for a network of propagandists operating under the alias "Storm-2035," which had been generating persuasive political posts in English and Spanish using prompts written in Persian. According to OpenAI’s June threat report, the Storm-2035 network was likely controlled by Iranian operatives posing as ordinary citizens from the UK, US, Ireland, and Venezuela. These accounts sought to inflame already contentious political issues, with a particular focus on Scottish independence and Irish unification. The campaign aimed to deepen divisions by aligning these causes with support for the Iranian regime, raising concerns about foreign manipulation of Western political discourse. The crackdown came amid claims that a sudden disappearance of pro-independence social media accounts followed Israeli strikes on Tehran earlier this month. During a heated exchange in the Scottish Parliament, Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser challenged SNP cabinet secretary Angus Robertson about the potential foreign backing of the independence movement. “Are you concerned that your central policy objective is being actively backed by the terrorist state of Iran, as part of its campaign to weaken this United Kingdom?” Fraser asked. Robertson responded sharply, cautioning against political smearing. “Fraser should be very careful about seeking to smear people in this country who believe that this country should be a sovereign state,” he said. Despite the OpenAI intervention, some fake accounts linked to the Storm-2035 operation remain active. These accounts continue to promote pro-independence messages while praising the Iranian government. One such post, from a user with a stereotypical Scottish name and a generic avatar, declared: “The Iranian people triumphed through unity and resilience against two nuclear superpowers. Why shouldn’t we follow their example to win our independence from the British monarchy?” Cybersecurity experts have long warned that state-sponsored disinformation networks often focus on wedge issues to attract followers and later introduce unrelated political narratives. The sudden appearance of pro-Tehran content among Scottish nationalist accounts, which rarely express interest in Middle Eastern geopolitics, appears to be an effort to blend unrelated ideologies for propaganda purposes. The Storm-2035 campaign did not restrict itself to Scotland. OpenAI’s investigation found that the network also pushed narratives supporting Irish unity, Palestinian statehood, and Latino rights in the US, while echoing Iranian propaganda. These accounts typically displayed suspicious behavior, including following hundreds of users while having few followers, and using profile pictures lifted from websites like Pinterest — often showing young women with their faces obscured by phones. In its report, OpenAI stated: “The threat actor was prompting ChatGPT in Persian and generating batches of short comments in English and Spanish. The short comments were then posted on X by a series of likely inauthentic accounts that posed as residents of the target countries.” It noted the growing difficulty of distinguishing real from fake users online, particularly when large language models like ChatGPT are exploited to create content that sounds convincingly native. By blocking Storm-2035’s access, OpenAI hopes to reduce the spread of this type of AI-assisted disinformation. While artificial intelligence can help users communicate across languages and cultures, its misuse by hostile states remains a growing challenge for tech firms, governments, and civil society alike. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-06-30

@frank83628 enough of the conspiracy theory off topic nonsense

A number of posts removed. Please ensure when making specific claims you can back the up with a credible source if asked or your posts will be removed. "In factual areas such as news forums and current affairs topics member content that is claimed or portrayed as a fact should be supported by a link to a relevant reputable source."

UPDATE: After the Bombing: IAEA Chief Calls for Urgent Diplomacy with Iran Amid Nuclear Uncertainty After the Bombing: IAEA Chief Calls for Urgent Diplomacy with Iran Amid Nuclear Uncertainty In a wide-ranging interview on CBS’s Face the Nation, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), spoke candidly about the severe damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure following U.S. and Israeli strikes—and the urgent need for diplomacy to prevent a deeper crisis. “It’s clear that what happened in particular in Fordo, Natanz, Isfahan… has destroyed to an important degree” Iran’s capabilities in uranium treatment, conversion, and enrichment, Grossi told Margaret Brennan. While some infrastructure remains, he described the setback to Iran’s program as “very serious,” echoing the Iranian foreign minister’s own characterization of the situation. The IAEA, Grossi said, will eventually need to return to Iran—not to assess damage, but to re-establish oversight of nuclear materials and activities. “Our job is… to re-establish the knowledge of the activities that take place there, and the access to the material, which is very, very important.” Diplomatic efforts may pave the way. Grossi confirmed he remains in contact with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, backing his push for renewed negotiations. If diplomacy succeeds, he noted, “there could be an agreement on certain restrictions. And of course, who is going to verify that is the IAEA.” Yet cooperation is far from guaranteed. Iran’s parliament recently passed a law aiming to suspend engagement with IAEA inspectors, and the foreign minister said there are no plans to admit Grossi personally into the country. Grossi remains cautiously hopeful. “You cannot invoke an internal law not to abide with an international treaty,” he said, referring to Iran’s obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. “Iran is not saying that at the moment, and I think this is constructive.” Still, significant questions remain unresolved—particularly about Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium and its potential movement before the strikes. “We presume… that when they announce they are going to be taking protective measures, this could be part of it,” Grossi said. “But, as I said, we don’t know where this material could be.” Pressed on whether Iran could still rush toward developing a nuclear weapon, Grossi urged caution. “We don’t want to be alarmists… but we need to be in a position to ascertain, to confirm what is there, and where is it and what happened.” He emphasized that while some facilities may be destroyed, “the knowledge is there. The industrial capacity is there. Iran is a very sophisticated country in terms of nuclear technology.” Prior to the attacks, the IAEA still had inspectors operating in some Iranian facilities. Satellite images had shown trucks moving near Fordo, suggesting equipment or materials might have been relocated. But Grossi said such protective actions are permissible—if Iran informs the IAEA, which did not happen due to the speed of events. “Now is the time to reconnect and to talk,” he insisted. Responding to accusations from Iranian officials that his reports provoked the attacks, Grossi defended the agency’s neutrality. “Who can believe that this conflict happened because of a report of the IAEA?” he asked. “Maybe it’s easier to criticize an international organization… but it’s not reasonable.” When asked about various intelligence agencies offering conflicting timelines on Iran’s ability to rebuild, Grossi said it depends on what is being referred to and concluded. “There has been severe damage, but it’s not total damage. Iran has the capacities… if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again.” Iran had a very vast ambitious program, and part of it may still be there, and if not, there is also the self-evident truth that the knowledge is there. They can have, you know, in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium. Despite the destruction and mistrust, Grossi sees a chance for diplomacy. “This is an opportunity. We do have an opportunity now,” he said. “We have to go back to the table and have a technically sound solution… Otherwise, this will come hit us again.” Adapted by ASEAN Now from CBS 2025-06-29

@Chomper Higgot a post making numerous unsubstantiated claims has been removed. 5. You will not use ASEAN NOW to post any material which is knowingly or can be reasonably construed as false, inaccurate, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise in violation of any law. Topics or posts deemed to be scaremongering, deliberately misleading or which deliberately distort information will be removed. In factual areas such as news forums and current affairs topics member content that is claimed or portrayed as a fact should be supported by a link to a relevant reputable source.

No more links to the previous leaked preliminary report that has since been debunked, there are previous topics on that already. The topics here are: Iran Acknowledges Major Damage to Nuclear Facilities Amid Strained Diplomacy & IAEA Chief Confirms Devastating Blow to Iranian Nuclear Facility Following U.S. Strike

A number of posts advocating extreme violence have been removed. 9. You will not post disruptive or inflammatory messages. You will respect other members and post in a civil manner. Personal attacks, insults or hate speech posted on the forum or sent by private message are not allowed.

An off topic troll post has been removed along with another post claiming this was fake news

UPDATE: IAEA Chief Confirms Devastating Blow to Iranian Nuclear Facility Following U.S. Strike IAEA Chief Confirms Devastating Blow to Iranian Nuclear Facility Following U.S. Strike Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has confirmed that the Fordo uranium enrichment facility in Iran has suffered extensive physical damage following a U.S. military strike, rendering its centrifuges non-operational. “There was no escaping significant physical damage,” Grossi said, underscoring the severity of the attack. The U.S. strike, involving powerful bunker-busting bombs, was part of a broader bombing campaign that also targeted nuclear sites in Natanz and Isfahan. These three locations, according to Grossi, were central to Iran’s uranium enrichment and conversion activities. “So the attacks that began on June 13 resulted in very significant physical damage to three sites: Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordo,” he said. “Very significant" Inspectors from the IAEA, who had been monitoring Iran’s nuclear program, were on-site at Fordo until just a day before the attacks. “We didn’t know, of course, that these attacks were going to take place, but we were able to take inventory, day by day,” Grossi noted. Since then, access to the sites has been impossible, forcing the agency to rely on satellite imagery and other remote-sensing tools. Still, Grossi emphasized the reliability of their conclusions. “We know quite a lot. We know these facilities inside and out. That’s the difference between us and the rest of the world. Because we’re there. It was our daily job, I would say, to inspect all these facilities,” he said. “So we can draw fairly precise conclusions by looking at satellite images and other images regarding the type of damage and the consequences of what happened.” Centrifuges at Fordo — high-precision machines essential to the enrichment of uranium — are particularly susceptible to vibrations and physical shock. The force of the bombs, Grossi explained, would have severely compromised their delicate operation. “We already know that these centrifuges are no longer operational,” he said. “There was no escaping significant physical damage. So we can come to a fairly accurate technical conclusion.” Despite the extent of the destruction, Grossi stopped short of declaring that Iran’s nuclear program had been completely eliminated. “It would be too much to assert that Iran’s nuclear program had been wiped out,” he said. “There is very considerable damage. The nuclear program has definitely suffered enormous damage.” He echoed sentiments expressed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently told reporters at a NATO summit in the Netherlands that the Fordo site had been “obliterated.” C.I.A. Director John Ratcliffe also claimed the strikes had “severely damaged” Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Grossi added, “Perhaps decades, depending on the type of activity or objective. It’s true that with these reduced capacities, it will be much more difficult for Iran to continue at the same pace as before.” Iran has responded by stating its intention to implement protective measures for its already enriched uranium. “Iranian officials had told me that they would take ‘protective measures’ for the uranium they had already enriched,” Grossi confirmed. Grossi also offered insights into the nature of the Fordo facility itself. “I know the Fordo facility. It’s a network of tunnels where different types of activities took place,” he said. “What we saw in the images and analyzed more or less corresponds to the enrichment hall where the bombs hit their targets.” In conclusion, while some elements of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure remain intact, the damage to key facilities has been overwhelming. As Grossi put it, “What I can tell you, and I think everyone agrees on this, is that there is very considerable damage.” Adapted by ASEAN Now from RFI 2025-06-28

@Somjot this article is behind a paywall. Please PM me a link and I will then open back up. Since OP has not contacted me an alternative link to the same article has been posted by a member here:

Starmer’s Struggles Laid Bare in Welfare Climbdown That Shakes Labour’s Grip The Labour government, riding into office on the back of a landslide that handed it a 165-seat working majority, has just faced a harsh awakening. On Thursday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer suffered a humiliating reversal on welfare reform after 127 Labour MPs threatened to defy him, forcing Downing Street into a sudden and significant retreat. Initially, the leadership responded to dissent with stonewalling. Private complaints were ignored until they boiled over into public rebellion. The pressure proved too great to contain, resulting in an embarrassing climbdown over planned cuts to disability benefits. “A government with a massive 165-strong working majority had an awakening on Thursday to the importance of parliament,” one insider remarked, summarizing the scope of the moment. The revolt marked a historic moment in parliamentary politics. Not since 1986 has a government lost a bill at its second reading – when the general principles of legislation are voted on. The only time in the 20th century such a defeat happened under a government with a majority was Margaret Thatcher’s Shops Bill. That Starmer came so close to repeating that, less than a year into his premiership, and with such a commanding majority, is a blow not just to his credibility but to his control over the party. The context only adds to the drama. Over the past ten days, Starmer had been consumed by foreign policy crises: from the Iran-Israel conflict and the threat it posed to UK national security, to vital summits at the G7 in Canada and NATO in the Netherlands. One might forgive him for feeling blindsided by domestic turbulence on his return. He landed in Westminster Wednesday night and by Thursday had to hastily approve a rescue plan to avoid disaster. While the full details of the retreat were not confirmed at the time of writing, insiders described it as substantial. The government is now expected to preserve personal independence payments for existing claimants, walking back a proposal that would have removed benefits from hundreds of thousands of disabled people. Additionally, the cuts to the health component of universal credit will be scrapped for current recipients—at a cost of around £1.5 billion, a third of the originally forecast savings. A senior parliamentary source described the revised offer as “a good package” with “generous concessions.” Still, whether it will be enough to bring MPs back into line remains uncertain. Downing Street has “given MPs a ladder to climb down,” but it will need to spend the coming days convincing them to use it ahead of Tuesday’s critical vote. What’s more troubling for Starmer is the simmering discontent within his party. Backbench MPs are angry, not just at the reforms but at the way they were handled. Critics have turned their ire on Starmer’s inner circle, branding it a “boy’s club,” and targeting his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney for what they see as a narrow focus on staving off the threat from Reform UK, while neglecting more progressive threats from the Greens and Liberal Democrats. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has also found herself in the firing line. “The growing drumbeat in the party is that Reeves must go,” one Labour figure admitted, adding that the cabinet’s efforts to pressure MPs into supporting the bill backfired, leading even more MPs to sign the amendment in protest. Liz Kendall, architect of the reforms, has somehow escaped the brunt of the criticism, but the winter fuel misstep and now this rebellion have left Reeves increasingly exposed. This crisis doesn’t end with the welfare bill. The concessions now have to be paid for. Will the government abandon its plans to reform the two-child benefit cap? Will new cuts appear elsewhere in the welfare budget? The risk is that this firefight becomes a pattern. “What the parliamentary party has seen,” one observer noted, “is a government that, when pressed … will fold.” That perception may only encourage future uprisings. In the short term, Starmer may have avoided a legislative disaster. But the real damage may be longer term: weakened authority, emboldened rebels, and a party asking tough questions about its direction under his leadership. Rebuilding trust—and control—just became much harder. Adapted by ASEAN Now from Sky News 2025-06-28