American Expats Flock to Russia: MAGA Voters Seek Nostalgia and Stability
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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Wednesday 25 June 2025
Two Injured as Booby-Trapped Torch and Drill Explode in Lopburi Picture courtesy of Khaosod. A couple of explosions have rocked a rural village in Lopburi province after two seemingly ordinary household items, a head torch and an electric drill, were found to be booby-trapped with explosives. Two people have been left injured, including an 18-year-old who lost fingers and an eye, in what local authorities are now treating as a deliberate attempt to harm people. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364694-two-injured-as-booby-trapped-torch-and-drill-explode-in-lopburi/ -
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Middle East Iran-Israel Ceasefire Holds Amid NATO Drama and Rising Repression in Tehran
Trump’s Fiery Diplomacy: Iran-Israel Ceasefire Holds Amid NATO Drama and Rising Repression in Tehran A tense ceasefire between Israel and Iran appears to be holding—at least for now—following an extraordinary series of outbursts and interventions by U.S. President Donald Trump. As he departed for the NATO summit in the Netherlands, Trump lashed out at both nations on his social media platform Truth Social, accusing them of violating the truce he had personally declared just hours earlier. But shortly after taking off on Air Force One, he announced that both sides had agreed to stop hostilities again, boasting, “Both Israel and Iran wanted to stop the War, equally! It was my great honor to Destroy All Nuclear facilities & capability, and then, STOP THE WAR!” Trump’s tone has swung dramatically in recent days, but it is clear he sees the ceasefire and renewed defense commitments by NATO allies as a personal triumph. In a gushing message sent to him by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, which Trump promptly shared online, Rutte praised the president’s military actions. “Dear Donald, your decisive action in Iran... was truly extraordinary, and something no-one else dared to do,” he wrote. “You are flying into another big success in The Hague… You will achieve something no American president in decades could get done.” The ceasefire comes after twelve days of conflict and destruction, with Iranian citizens voicing a mix of relief and deep skepticism. “I can’t believe the US and Israel made peace with them, especially after all they said about regime change, giving us false hope,” said one Tehran resident via a secure messaging app. Another was more blunt: “I wanted the war to continue until all mullahs are dead. The fact that they are staying and might continue to stay and crack down on us scares me more than the war itself.” Inside Iran, the end of active hostilities has not brought calm. In fact, repression has intensified. Since June 13, Iranian authorities have arrested hundreds on vague “security charges,” a catch-all term used to silence dissent. Today, the prosecutor in Kermanshah province announced that 115 people had been detained for “disturbing security,” including a European citizen accused of espionage. Hamidreza Karimi noted that while only a few face formal spying charges, most are accused of “propaganda against the system.” Iran's judiciary says parliament has now eased legal restrictions, allowing for faster prosecution and harsher sentences for alleged infiltrators and spies. “Under the previous law,” a judiciary spokesperson explained, “many of those arrested during the war with Israel could not have been tried. Now the parliament has opened our hands to deliver exemplary punishments.” At least three people have already been executed, and more arrests have been reported across multiple cities, often tied to social media posts or vague accusations of espionage. Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called on Iran to resume cooperation over its nuclear program. “Resuming co-operation with the IAEA is key to a successful diplomatic agreement to finally resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear activities,” said agency chief Rafael Grossi. He also noted that Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities had suffered “extensive damage,” with “some localized radioactive as well as chemical release,” though no elevated radiation levels have been reported outside the sites. Back in the Netherlands, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed cautious optimism. “This is an opportunity to secure much-needed stability in the Middle East. Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, and they must now return to the table and work towards a lasting settlement,” he said, adding that it was a central message he was sharing with NATO leaders. Still, as Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly held a firm exchange over the ceasefire’s early violations, observers remain wary. Ceasefires in the region, as history shows, are fragile at best. The destruction of Iranian nuclear infrastructure may have pushed the clock back, but the hard questions remain: how far was Iran from a weapon, and what now? Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-06-25 -
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EU NATO’s €1 Million-a-Minute Summit Amid Sabotage Fears and Soaring Tensions
A Fortress for Diplomacy: NATO’s €1 Million-a-Minute Summit Amid Sabotage Fears and Soaring Tensions In the Dutch city of The Hague, a NATO summit like no other is underway. Though it will last just two and a half hours in face-to-face talks, it has already become the most expensive in the alliance's history, costing €183 million—more than €1 million per minute. That breaks down to over €10 per Dutch citizen. For host nation the Netherlands, and for NATO at large, this is not just a meeting—it’s a display of unity under pressure, with security concerns, spending targets, and the unpredictable presence of President Trump all shaping the landscape. A massive military and police effort is in place to protect the gathering, involving 27,000 police officers—half of the Dutch police force—and 10,000 soldiers. The scale of this operation is matched by growing anxiety over potential sabotage. A recent fire near Amsterdam’s main airport that damaged 30 rail cables has fueled speculation. “It could be sabotage. That is one of the things we are investigating,” said Dutch security minister David van Weel. While some officials suggested the fire might have been caused by vandals or copper thieves, Van Weel added, “It could be an activist group. It could be another state. It could be anything.” ProRail, which manages the Dutch railway network, is also investigating the incident. “We are very keen to find out what the cause is,” said a spokesperson, though the company declined to speculate. The summit’s purpose, at least officially, is to reaffirm NATO’s commitment to defense spending. A pledge by member states to spend 5 percent of GDP on military and defense-related budgets is expected to be presented as a victory for President Trump. His efforts are likely to be praised by leaders such as UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. “There is total commitment by the American president and the US senior leadership to NATO,” declared Mark Rutte, NATO’s secretary-general and the former Dutch prime minister. Rutte emphasized that increased military spending is not just about keeping Trump satisfied—it’s about preventing war. “If we want to prevent war, we have to spend more. We need ammunition, ammunition, ammunition. Then we will get peace by being strong,” he said. Still, behind the summit’s polished exterior—complete with choreographed “family photographs,” royal dinners, and strategic leader encounters—there’s considerable unease among NATO allies. Many remain uncertain about Trump’s long-term commitment to the alliance, and divisions persist over the United States’ recent military actions in the Middle East. To avoid sparking tensions, the summit’s communique has been reduced to just five short paragraphs on a single sheet of paper, a stark contrast to the 44-paragraph declaration issued at last year’s Washington meeting. Not all members are on board with the 5 percent spending goal. Spain has refused to commit, and Belgium and Slovakia have expressed reservations. As a result, the deadline to meet these targets has been extended from 2032 to 2035, giving countries like the UK more time to reach 3.5 percent of GDP for core military spending and 1.5 percent for related expenditures. President Trump’s arrival is treated as a security event unto itself. His 1,000-strong entourage includes Secret Service agents and two “Beast” limousines, which arrived aboard American C-17 aircraft. These nine-ton armored vehicles contain satellite phones, bulletproof glass, and even nuclear codes. Trump will attend a dinner hosted by King Willem-Alexander and spend the night at the Dutch royal residence before a working breakfast with the king and then on to the summit. The Hague has been transformed into a fortress. A ten-mile no-fly zone is monitored by F-35 jets, Apache helicopters, and naval frigates in the North Sea. Police and military drones patrol the skies, while leaders travel between venues in golf buggies through three miles of barricades and mesh fencing. Even the summit venue itself, the World Forum, has walls thick enough to prevent electronic eavesdropping. At a time of global insecurity, NATO’s most costly and shortest summit is a reminder that peace and diplomacy require not just words—but steel, secrecy, and spectacle. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-06-25 -
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USA Diddy Declines to Testify as Defense Rests Without Witnesses in Sex-Trafficking Trial
Diddy Declines to Testify as Defense Rests Without Witnesses in Explosive Sex-Trafficking Trial Sean “Diddy” Combs will not testify in his own defense during his high-stakes federal sex-trafficking trial in Manhattan — a dramatic shift in strategy revealed by his legal team on Monday. In a surprise move, Combs’ attorneys also announced they will not call any witnesses at all, opting instead to rely on existing evidence that has already been admitted into the trial record. The revelation came from Combs’ lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, who told the judge the defense would present jurors with materials the prosecution has already agreed to. The decision reverses earlier plans to bring in at least three witnesses, including two Combs Enterprises employees and a psychological expert. More notably, it confirms that the 55-year-old music mogul — once a towering figure in hip-hop — will not testify on his own behalf, unlike in a 2001 trial where he famously took the stand and was later acquitted. The burden of proof remains entirely on federal prosecutors, and the jury will be reminded by Judge Arun Subramanian that Combs’ choice not to testify or call witnesses cannot legally be held against him. That instruction is expected before deliberations, which could begin by the end of this week. Over the past six weeks, prosecutors have laid out a damning portrait of Combs, calling more than 30 witnesses — including three women who alleged they were beaten, raped, or forced into “freak-offs” orchestrated by Combs himself. According to their testimony, these sessions involved Combs allegedly compelling women to have sex with male prostitutes while he watched, masturbated, and recorded the encounters. On Monday, jurors were shown graphic footage of these events — videos previously ruled too explicit for public release — including “hotel night” recordings involving a woman identified only as “Jane,” one of the three primary accusers. These clips were presented while Homeland Security special agent Joseph Cerciello, the prosecution’s final witness, was on the stand. Cerciello is expected to finish testifying by Tuesday morning. The trial is now racing toward its conclusion, with closing arguments scheduled for Thursday. Each side is expected to have at least four hours to present their final cases. Combs is facing life in prison if convicted on multiple charges including sex trafficking, racketeering, and prostitution-related crimes. He has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors allege that for more than a decade, Combs weaponized his wealth, fame, and employees to support an empire of abuse, criminality, and control. These accusations include everything from ordering the firebombing of rapper Kid Cudi’s Porsche to organizing cross-country drug smuggling by his staff. According to prosecutors, Combs had his assistants stockpile hotel rooms with cash, drugs, baby oil, and lubricant for drug-fueled sexual sessions with women he allegedly coerced. Combs has consistently maintained that the women involved were his romantic partners and that all encounters were consensual. His decision not to testify stands in sharp contrast to his 2001 state court trial, when he faced charges related to a nightclub shooting. At the time, Combs took the stand to argue self-defense, telling jurors, “I thought I was being shot at.” He was acquitted of all charges after 22 hours of jury deliberation, though his co-defendant was convicted of assault for shooting two bystanders. This time, Combs is remaining silent — and leaving his fate in the hands of his legal team, the evidence already submitted, and ultimately, the jury. Adapted by ASEAN Now from NYP 2025-06-25 -
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EU Outcry in Seville: Botched Virgin Mary Restoration Sparks Tears and Fury
Outcry in Seville: Botched Virgin Mary Restoration Sparks Tears and Fury In the heart of Seville, a revered 17th-century statue of the Virgin Mary—known as the Virgin of the Macarena—has become the center of controversy after a restoration left her almost unrecognizable to her devoted followers. Catholics in the city have been left shocked, with some moved to tears, after the restoration appeared to give the sacred effigy the stylized appearance of having undergone plastic surgery. The wooden polychrome statue, one of Spain’s most iconic religious images and a central figure in Seville’s Easter Week processions, has withstood centuries of history, including war and even, as legend has it, a glass of red wine hurled at her by a Protestant. But nothing seems to have shaken the public's faith like the recent aesthetic alterations, which included giving the Virgin extra-long eyelashes and altering her facial expression. “This isn’t her; this isn’t the Virgin of Seville. It’s sad. My heart is about to burst out,” one distressed member of the Brotherhood of the Macarena told ABC newspaper. Another shared, “I came to see her because everyone in my family has been crying all day about it.” The response was so immediate and visceral that, within 24 hours, the brotherhood responsible for the statue reportedly carried out two unannounced follow-up restorations in an effort to reverse the changes. The statue had been unveiled in the Basilica of the Macarena on Saturday after five days of restoration work, but the result was met with widespread public backlash. Local media captured the sentiment clearly. Diario de Sevilla noted that while the Virgin’s face appeared cleaner, “what most caught the attention, besides the clarity of her face, were her eyelashes, significantly more abundant and which, to a certain extent, changed the expression of her face, somewhat modifying the characteristic gaze of the Virgin Mary.” Under mounting pressure, the brotherhood issued a formal apology and temporarily closed the basilica on Saturday afternoon to carry out additional corrections. When the statue was revealed again, her eyelashes had been shortened—an effort to correct what was described as an “undesired effect.” Yet this wasn’t enough to quell the unrest. On Sunday morning, the basilica was closed once again, and this time, the Virgin Mary emerged bearing a closer resemblance to her original appearance, as Our Lady of Hope, the name by which she is also venerated. The incident quickly dominated headlines and social media in Spain, surpassing even coverage of a major government corruption scandal and the ongoing war in Iran. Outraged critics have drawn comparisons to Spain’s most infamous restoration disaster: the 2012 case of “Monkey Christ,” when an elderly parishioner attempted to touch up a fresco of Jesus Christ, turning it into an international spectacle. What began as an attempt to refresh a treasured image of faith has instead ignited a fierce debate over tradition, reverence, and the limits of restoration. For many in Seville, the Virgin of the Macarena is not just a statue but a symbol of enduring spiritual identity. Any alteration, however well-intentioned, touches more than just paint and wood—it touches the soul of a community. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-06-25 -
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USA Hunter Biden Sued by Former Law Firm Over Unpaid Legal Fees
Hunter Biden Sued by Former Law Firm Over Unpaid Legal Fees Hunter Biden is facing a new legal battle, this time from the law firm that helped defend him in multiple federal investigations, including his recent felony gun trial in Delaware. According to a lawsuit filed Monday in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Biden allegedly owes Winston & Strawn LLP “substantially in excess of $50,000” for unpaid legal fees. “This is breach of contract action against Mr. Biden for unpaid legal fees,” states the complaint, which outlines the services provided to the president’s son and his alleged failure to meet his financial obligations. The firm said it represented Hunter Biden, 55, in “several complex matters,” including his federal criminal case in Delaware, as well as investigations by the Department of Justice and congressional oversight inquiries. The lawsuit reveals that Biden entered into a formal engagement contract with the firm on December 23, 2022. Under the terms of that agreement, Winston & Strawn was tasked with managing legal strategy, coordinating with other lawyers and advisors, and representing Biden in all relevant proceedings. “Although a portion of those fees have been paid, Mr. Biden presently owes [Winston & Strawn] substantially in excess of $50,000 in fees and interest that are due and payable,” the complaint reads. The firm alleges that Biden has ignored repeated attempts to collect the balance. “Despite repeated requests for payment, Mr. Biden has failed to pay the amounts he owes,” the firm stated. “This action is brought to enforce [Winston & Strawn’s] contract rights against Mr. Biden through judgment for the amount due, and lien on all Mr. Biden’s assets.” The lawsuit includes details about the high costs associated with his defense. Abbe Lowell, one of Hunter Biden’s former attorneys at Winston & Strawn, noted that his own hourly rate was $1,510, while other firm personnel billed between $230 and $1,945 per hour. Lowell has since left the firm and did not respond to media requests for comment. Winston & Strawn claimed it “devoted substantial resources” to defending Biden, generating “substantial legal fees.” The firm said that while some payments were made between March 2023 and October 2024, a “substantial amount remains due and owing.” According to the complaint, Biden never objected to any of the bills submitted for legal services. “As of April 30, 2025, the outstanding amount due, when factoring in invoiced amounts and interest, is substantially in excess of $50,000.” The firm said it has suffered “substantial financial damages” as a result of Biden’s “breach of the Engagement Contract.” An initial hearing in the case has been scheduled for September 19. The lawsuit also adds another layer of controversy to Hunter Biden’s already complex legal and financial history. During the congressional impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, Hunter’s close associate Kevin Morris — dubbed his “sugar brother” — told investigators he had been paying legal bills for the president’s son. In May 2024, just weeks before the Delaware gun trial began, Morris reportedly told friends he was “completely tapped out” amid escalating legal expenses. Hunter Biden, who has reportedly earned nearly $1.5 million through the sale of his abstract artwork, was convicted on three felony charges in the Delaware gun case. He later pleaded guilty in a separate tax evasion case in California. In a dramatic turn, President Biden issued a full pardon for his son in December, shortly before leaving office. Winston & Strawn has declined to comment on the ongoing lawsuit. Adapted by ASEAN Now from NYP 2025-06-25
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