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World News

Fresh news brought to you daily from around the world. Hot news, breaking stories as they happen.

Israel Expands Lebanon Strikes After Netanyahu Vow

Israel launched a new wave of air strikes across Lebanon on Monday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country would intensify its military campaign against Hezbollah.

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The Israeli military said it had targeted Hezbollah sites in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, as well as additional locations elsewhere in the country. The strikes followed a video statement from Netanyahu, who said Israel was “at war with Hezbollah” and had instructed the military to “deal them a crushing blow”.
The escalation comes despite a 45-day ceasefire extension agreed earlier this month between Israel and Lebanon. Although the truce reduced large-scale fighting, clashes and air strikes have continued, particularly in southern Lebanon.
Fears of Wider Conflict
The latest attacks have raised concerns in Beirut that Israel’s military campaign could expand further and potentially include the Lebanese capital.
Netanyahu said Israeli operations against Hezbollah had already “eliminated over 600 terrorists” and argued that the military now needed to increase both the number and intensity of its strikes.
Since the ceasefire agreement signed on 16 April, most Israeli attacks have been concentrated in southern Lebanon, where Israeli troops remain deployed. Israel says rockets and drones have continued to be launched from the area.
The Bekaa Valley, targeted on Monday evening, is a strategic region in eastern Lebanon near the Syrian border and has long been considered a stronghold for Hezbollah.
Regional Tensions Persist
The expansion of Israel’s offensive came as Iran said any emerging peace agreement with the United States must include a complete ceasefire across all fronts in the regional conflict.
Israel’s government has resisted calls to end operations against Hezbollah. Ten Israeli soldiers have been killed since the original ceasefire was agreed, according to Israeli officials.
Lebanese authorities say more than 400 people have been killed in Israeli bombardments during the same period, including paramedics and emergency workers.
Israeli forces have also issued near-daily evacuation warnings for residents in newly targeted areas of southern Lebanon, contributing to the displacement of more than one million people.
Background to the Conflict
Lebanon became involved in the current conflict after the United States and Israel launched military action against Iran on 28 February. Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, responded after an Israeli strike killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The group fired rockets into Israel, prompting an Israeli air campaign across Lebanon and a subsequent ground invasion.
According to Lebanon’s health ministry, more than 3,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since the conflict began.
The Lebanese government has said it is attempting to disarm Hezbollah but argues that maintaining a ceasefire is essential to completing what it describes as a highly complex process.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 26 May 2026

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Iran Says US Deal Not Yet Within Reach

Iran has said progress has been made in negotiations with the United States but warned that an agreement between the two sides is still not close.

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Speaking in Tehran on Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai said talks had advanced on many issues but cautioned against expectations of an imminent breakthrough.
“It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion,” Baqai said. “But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent — no one can make such a claim.”
His comments came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested a deal could be announced as early as Monday.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Rubio said negotiators had hoped for developments overnight. “Maybe today,” he added, while warning against reading too much into the timing because communication with Tehran was taking time.
Talks and ceasefire proposal
According to reports, the proposed memorandum of understanding would include a 60-day extension of the ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and further negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.
At the weekend, US President Donald Trump said the two sides were moving closer to a deal, although he later said he had instructed negotiators not to rush.
CBS News reported that US intelligence believes Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in hiding after being injured during an Israeli strike at the start of the conflict that killed his father and predecessor. The report said difficulties communicating with his envoys had slowed the pace of negotiations.
US media reports said the current proposal is not intended as a final settlement and would leave several major issues unresolved for future talks. These include sanctions relief, access to frozen Iranian assets and Washington’s demands for limits on Iran’s nuclear activities.
Hormuz and market reaction
Rubio said the agreement would help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the key shipping route through which around one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass.
Iran has effectively blocked the waterway since the conflict began, disrupting global trade and pushing up energy prices.
Markets reacted positively to signs of progress in the negotiations. Oil prices fell sharply on Monday, while Asian stock markets rose.
However, shipping executives warned that any recovery in global supply chains would take time even if an agreement is reached.
Lars Jensen, chief executive of Vespucci Maritime and former director at shipping company Maersk, told BBC Radio 4 that the industry would remain cautious for months before making significant operational changes.
Republican divisions emerge
The proposed deal has triggered criticism from several senior Republicans in Washington, exposing divisions within Trump’s political allies.
Senator Ted Cruz called the reported terms “a disastrous mistake”, while Senator Roger Wicker said a temporary ceasefire would undermine the results of “Operation Epic Fury”.
Senator Lindsey Graham also criticised any arrangement that could leave Iran appearing dominant in the region.
Trump dismissed the criticism, describing opponents as “losers” and insisting any agreement with Iran would either be “great and meaningful” or there would be no deal at all.
The conflict began after wide-ranging US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February. Iran retaliated with attacks on Israel and Gulf states allied with Washington and moved to close the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran remained willing to reassure the international community that it was not seeking nuclear weapons.



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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source: 26 May 2026
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China launches Shenzhou 23 crew to space station

China has launched the Shenzhou 23 spacecraft carrying three astronauts to its Tiangong space station, with one crew member expected to remain in orbit for up to a year in one of the country's longest planned human spaceflight missions on Sunday according to state media reports.

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Commander Zhu Yangzhu leads the mission alongside Zhang Zhiyuan and Lai Ka-ying, also identified by authorities as Li Jiaying. Lai, born and raised in Hong Kong, holds a doctorate in computer forensics and becomes the first astronaut from the city to participate in a space mission. She is also described by state media as China's fourth female astronaut to go into space in space.
Crew and extended mission
The crew is expected to carry out dozens of science and application projects while in orbit. They will also take part in an in-orbit rotation with the crew of Shenzhou 21, who have been aboard the Tiangong space station for more than 200 days.
Station operations and rotation
The Shenzhou 21 mission included China's youngest astronaut and carried four mice, marking the first live mammals sent on a Chinese space mission since the programme began during their time in orbit at Tiangong station state media said according to state media reports.
Space programme context
China is expanding its space programme as it prepares for a first crewed lunar landing by 2030. The United States is seen as its main rival in space, with NASA targeting a lunar landing in 2028. China was effectively excluded from the International Space Station on US national security concerns, prompting development of its own Tiangong station, which first hosted a crew in 2021. In previous missions, an emergency Shenzhou flight returned astronauts who had been stranded after a spacecraft was damaged. A separate incident saw astronauts delayed for nine days when the window of their return spacecraft was damaged. They ultimately returned on Shenzhou 21 after its crew arrived at the station, while Shenzhou 20 was later deemed unsafe to carry astronauts as the programme continues to develop in the future according to official reports.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 25 May 2026
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Israeli strikes hit Lebanon amid ceasefire tensions

Israeli air strikes hit areas across southern and eastern Lebanon on Sunday, according to Lebanese state media, with reports of casualties as attacks continued despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah that began on 17 April and has since been extended.

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The latest bombardment followed a deadly strike a day earlier in Sir al-Gharbiyeh, in southern Lebanon, where the health ministry said 11 people were killed, including a child and six women. Nine others were injured, among them four children and a woman, the ministry added.
Israel’s military has maintained that its operations are aimed at Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, even after the ceasefire came into effect. The Iran-backed group has also continued cross-border activity, including rocket fire on Sunday targeting Israeli forces operating inside Lebanese territory.
Warnings before fresh raids
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported multiple strikes on Sunday across southern and eastern regions, some of which resulted in casualties. Several of the attacks reportedly came shortly before the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings covering more than a dozen villages in southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley.
An AFP correspondent described large plumes of smoke rising after strikes on the southern towns of Nabatieh and Zawtar al-Sharqiyah. Lebanon’s civil defence agency said its regional facility in Nabatieh had been destroyed in an overnight strike, with images showing personnel recovering equipment and removing oxygen cylinders from rubble.
The ceasefire, brokered with US involvement, has faced repeated strain as both sides continue to accuse each other of violations. Under the terms published by Washington, Israel retains the right to respond to what it describes as “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks”.
Diplomatic signals and regional talks
Amid the continued violence, political figures in Lebanon and abroad have pointed to possible diplomatic movement between Washington and Tehran. Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah lawmaker recently sanctioned by the United States, said “major transformations are taking place in the region” and suggested a potential US-Iran understanding could include Lebanon in any broader settlement.
He said Iran had made any agreement with the United States conditional on halting the war in Lebanon. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem also said he had received a message from Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, delivered via Pakistani mediators, outlining a proposal that included Lebanon in wider ceasefire efforts.
Qassem expressed cautious hope that a deal between Iran and the United States could soon be completed, saying there were “signs of its completion” and that Lebanon could be included in a full cessation of hostilities.
US criticism and political tensions
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Hezbollah of attempting to push Lebanon “back into chaos”, criticising what he described as the group’s “reckless call to overthrow Lebanon’s democratically elected government”. He said Hezbollah was actively contributing to instability in the country.
Separately, Lebanese authorities have begun direct talks with Israel under US mediation, while insisting those discussions remain separate from Iran-US negotiations.
Hezbollah entered the broader regional conflict on 2 March, launching rockets at Israel in response to the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, according to the group’s position outlined in the source material. Israeli forces are also reported to be operating within an area described as a “yellow line”, extending about 10km inside Lebanon’s southern border.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 25 May 2026
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Spearfisher killed in second Australia shark attack

A spearfisher has died after being attacked by a shark on the Great Barrier Reef, marking Australia’s second fatal shark attack in just over a week, police have said in recent days in Australian waters.

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The 39-year-old man was diving with three friends from a boat at Kennedy Shoal off the Queensland coast south of Cairns on Sunday when the incident occurred during a diving trip at sea, according to police.
Police Inspector Elaine Burns said the man was spearfishing when he was attacked and suffered a fatal head injury in Queensland waters.
Attack off Queensland reef
Kennedy Shoal is a shallow coral reef popular with recreational fishers and divers. It is also known for the nearby Lady Bowen shipwreck, a 19th-century wreck that attracts visitors, according to local authorities.
Police said fishers in the area had previously reported sightings of bull sharks before the attack.
Emergency response and victim details
The victim, a resident of Cairns, was brought by boat to the tourist town of Hull Heads around midday, shortly after the attack, where paramedics were waiting.
An ambulance service statement said he had “sustained injuries not compatible with life”, according to the ambulance service.
Inspector Burns said the man died from a critical head injury.
Recent fatal attacks and national toll
The incident follows another fatal shark attack on 16 May at a coral reef off Rottnest Island near the southwest coast of Western Australia in another incident.
In that case, spearfisher Steve Mattabonni, a 38-year-old Perth resident, was fatally injured. He was taken by boat to the holiday island, where paramedics were unable to resuscitate him, in that case.
A five-metre white shark was suspected by authorities.
Australia has recorded an average of more than three fatal shark attacks a year in recent decades over time. The latest death is Australia’s third shark fatality of 2026 so far.
Earlier this year, 12-year-old Nico Antic died in hospital days after being attacked by a suspected bull shark off a Sydney beach on 18 January this year.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 25 May 2026
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White House tells Pompeo to 'shut his stupid mouth' on Iran

The White House has sharply criticised former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after he attacked an emerging US proposal aimed at ending the conflict with Iran, with a senior communications official telling him to “shut his stupid mouth”.

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White House Communications Director Steven Cheung accused Pompeo of commenting without proper knowledge of ongoing negotiations, escalating a public dispute over the direction of US policy on Iran.
Cheung said Pompeo “has no idea what the f— he’s talking about” and urged him to stop commenting on the talks, arguing that he was not briefed on current developments and therefore could not accurately assess the situation.
Pompeo, who served as Secretary of State during the first Trump administration, had earlier criticised the reported outline of a deal in a post on X, saying it did not align with an “America First” approach.
Criticism of emerging Iran framework
In his remarks, Pompeo compared the reported negotiations to earlier diplomatic efforts linked to Obama-era officials, referencing figures involved in previous Iran nuclear talks, including Wendy Sherman, Robert Malley and Ben Rhodes.
He argued that the approach being discussed would strengthen Iran’s military-linked institutions and warned against financial concessions, urging a far tougher strategy toward Tehran. His comments formed part of a wider wave of criticism from Republican figures.
Several Republican lawmakers, including Senators Roger Wicker, Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham, also raised concerns about the emerging framework, reflecting divisions within conservative ranks over how to handle Iran.
Limited details of proposed agreement
Details of the proposed deal remain limited, but reports suggest it may include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route through which around a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. Any disruption or reopening of the passage has significant implications for global energy markets.
The reported framework also appears to include lifting a blockade on Iranian ports and establishing a temporary 60-day ceasefire intended to allow further negotiations on longer-term issues.
However, the proposal does not appear to include immediate restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme, a point that has drawn criticism from conservatives and former officials who argue the omission is a major weakness.
US President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that final details of the agreement were still being discussed and would be announced soon. He also indicated that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would be part of any deal.
Tensions over past policy and alliances
Pompeo served in Trump’s first administration but later became politically distanced from parts of the former president’s circle. Relations between the two have remained strained since Trump returned to office in 2025.
The exchange also reflects wider disagreements over US strategy toward Iran, particularly the legacy of the Obama-era nuclear agreement, which the Trump administration previously withdrew from and has repeatedly criticised.
Trump has also previously revoked security protection for Pompeo and other former officials with whom he fell out, despite ongoing threats reportedly linked to Iran.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 25 May 2026
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Iran switches World Cup base from US to Mexico

Iran’s football federation says Fifa has approved a request to move the country’s World Cup training base from the United States to Mexico ahead of next month’s tournament.

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The president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, said the team would now be based in the Mexican border city of Tijuana instead of Tucson.
Fifa has not yet publicly confirmed the change.
Iran had originally been assigned a base camp in Arizona for the tournament, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. However, uncertainty linked to the conflict in the Middle East and related security concerns prompted discussions over relocating the team’s preparations.
Tournament schedule
Iran are due to begin their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June before facing Belgium in the same city six days later. Their final group match is scheduled against Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.
Speaking about the move, Taj said the federation had held talks with Fifa and World Cup officials in Istanbul and also took part in an online meeting from Tehran with Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom.
He said the request to relocate the camp to Mexico had been accepted and added that Tijuana’s location offered shorter travel times to match venues.
According to Taj, flights from Tijuana to Los Angeles would take less than an hour, making logistics easier compared with the original Arizona base.
Iran’s squad are currently training in Antalya ahead of the tournament, which begins on 11 June.
Visa concerns remain
The preparations have also been affected by visa issues involving Iranian players and officials.
Earlier this month, Taj said members of the national team were still waiting to receive visas to enter the United States for the competition.
The Iranian federation has reportedly submitted a list of conditions to Fifa regarding participation in the tournament. These include requests for visas to be granted to players, coaches and officials who previously completed military service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Iranian players would be welcomed at the World Cup, although individuals linked to the IRGC could face restrictions on entry.
In April, Taj and several other Iranian football officials were denied entry into Canada ahead of Fifa’s annual congress in Vancouver. Canada’s immigration minister later said Taj’s visa had been cancelled because of alleged links to the IRGC.
Some members of Iran’s squad travelled to the US embassy in Ankara on Thursday to submit visa applications for the tournament.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 25 May 2026
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Russian Strikes on Ukraine Kill Four in Kyiv

Russia launched a large-scale overnight assault on Ukraine, firing hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in attacks that killed at least four people and injured around 100, according to Ukrainian officials.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was the primary target of the strikes, though several other regions were also hit. Loud explosions were reported across the capital through the night, while residential buildings, a school, an opera house and a museum suffered damage.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 90 missiles and 600 drones from Saturday evening onwards. Preliminary data indicated that 55 ballistic and cruise missiles and 549 drones were intercepted or destroyed, while 19 missiles may have failed to reach their targets. Officials also reported 16 direct missile strikes and 51 drone impacts across 54 locations.
Kyiv Under Heavy Fire
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two people were killed inside the city and 36 others, including two children, were taken to hospital.
One fatality occurred after a nine-storey apartment building in Kyiv’s Shevchenko district was struck, sparking a fire on the upper floors. In the same district, debris from another strike blocked the entrance to an air raid shelter at a school, trapping several people inside.
Emergency crews were deployed across the capital to extinguish fires, clear rubble and treat the wounded.
In the surrounding Kyiv region, regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk said two additional people had been killed. He described the strikes as “deliberate terror against peaceful people”.
Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the Chornobyl Museum in Kyiv had been heavily damaged. He called it “a deliberate attack on history, memory, and truth”.
Other regions including Cherkasy, Kharkiv, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy and Zhytomyr were also targeted, according to Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Dispute Over Oreshnik Missile
Russia’s defence ministry said the attacks were carried out in response to what it described as Ukrainian strikes on civilian infrastructure. Ukraine’s military denies targeting civilians.
Moscow also claimed it used the Oreshnik hypersonic missile during the assault. The weapon is believed to travel at more than 10 times the speed of sound and is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads.
President Zelensky said the missile had been launched at Bila Tserkva in the Kyiv region, though Ukraine’s presidential office later said investigations were continuing to confirm exactly which weapons had been used.
If verified, it would mark the third known use of the Oreshnik missile since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022 under President Vladimir Putin.
International Reaction
European leaders condemned the strikes and the reported use of the hypersonic missile.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticised the attack, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the missile’s use as “reckless nuclear-brinkmanship”.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the scenes in Kyiv were “awful” and pledged continued pressure on Russia.
The assault came days after Russian officials accused Ukraine of attacking a student dormitory in the occupied town of Starobilsk, where Moscow said 21 people were killed. Ukraine acknowledged carrying out a strike in the area but said it targeted an elite Russian drone unit.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 25 May 2026

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Starmer Calls Teen Rape Sentences ‘Appalling’

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described as “appalling” a case in which three teenage boys convicted of raping two girls avoided custodial sentences.

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The boys, aged 13 and 14 at the time of the offences, were sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on Thursday after attacks on two girls in Fordingbridge in November 2024 and January 2025.
Two of the boys, both now aged 15, and another now aged 14, were instead given Youth Rehabilitation Orders (YROs), community-based sentences for children that can include curfews, supervision and treatment requirements.
Review of sentences
Speaking after one of the victims criticised the ruling in an interview with the BBC, Starmer said the case was being urgently reviewed by the attorney general.
In a post on X, the prime minister said the girls had shown “extraordinary bravery and strength in heinous circumstances”.
“This is an appalling case and it is right that law officers are urgently reviewing the sentences,” he said.
The attorney general now has 28 days to decide whether to refer the sentences to the Court of Appeal under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.
Cabinet Office minister Darren Jones said ministers expected the review to move more quickly because of the seriousness of the case.
Victim criticises ruling
One of the victims, now aged 16, told the BBC the decision felt like “a rock straight in my face”.
She said the outcome made it appear that what had happened to the girls was “not OK, but it was OK in the eyes of the law because they were still children”.
The teenager questioned why she had gone through the court process and relived the attacks during the trial if the punishment amounted to what she described as “a slap on the wrist”.
She had been 15 when she was raped in an underpass near the River Avon after travelling to meet one of the boys, who had contacted her through Snapchat. The second victim, aged 14 at the time, was raped in a field.
The assaults were filmed on mobile phones, with some footage later shared online.
Judge cited age of offenders
At sentencing, Judge Nicholas Rowland said he wanted to avoid “criminalising these children unnecessarily”, despite acknowledging the seriousness of the offences.
He said the filming of the attacks made the crimes “even more serious”, but also praised the boys for their behaviour during the trial.
One 15-year-old received a three-year YRO with 180 days of intensive supervision for raping both girls and for indecent image offences.
The second 15-year-old received the same sentence for multiple rape charges and indecent image offences. The 14-year-old was given an 18-month YRO after being convicted of encouraging one of the rapes.
Under UK law, offenders under 18 serve custodial sentences in secure youth facilities rather than adult prisons.
Political reaction
Senior politicians from across parties criticised the sentences.
Robert Jenrick said justice had not been done and questioned whether judges should face greater accountability for sentencing decisions.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she was “sickened” by the case, while Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Ben Maguire called the crimes “utterly horrific”.
Rachel de Souza said she was “deeply concerned” and that her office would contact the families to offer support.
A government spokesperson said ministers shared the public’s “shock” at the details of the case and confirmed that law officers were reviewing the sentences “with the utmost care and attention”.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 25 May 2026

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Trump Tells US Team Not to Rush Iran Deal

US President Donald Trump has told American negotiators not to rush efforts to secure a deal with Iran, despite reports suggesting an agreement may be close.

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Media reports in the United States said discussions have focused on a possible 60-day extension of the current ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and continued negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.
In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump described the talks as “constructive” but stressed that both sides should proceed carefully.
“Negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side,” Trump wrote.
He added: “Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!”
Talks Continue Despite Remaining Disputes
Trump had said on Saturday that an agreement had been “largely negotiated”, fuelling speculation that a breakthrough announcement could be imminent.
However, Iranian media later reported that disagreements remain over “one or two” unresolved issues.
Iranian officials have also indicated that progress has been made, though foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei cautioned that key matters had not yet been settled.
Baghaei said negotiations were moving forward but warned that this did not guarantee final agreements on the most sensitive issues.
Conflict and Ceasefire
The latest diplomatic efforts follow months of conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States.
On 28 February, Israel and the US launched major air strikes on Iran. Tehran responded with drones and missile attacks targeting Israel and US-linked sites across Gulf countries.
A ceasefire reached in April was intended to create space for negotiations and has mostly held, although occasional exchanges of fire have continued.
Nuclear Programme and Hormuz
Trump repeated Washington’s long-standing position that Iran must not develop a nuclear weapon.
The United States and its allies accuse Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons capability through uranium enrichment. Iran has consistently denied the allegation, insisting its nuclear activities are for peaceful civilian purposes.
Trump also said the US blockade on Iranian ports, introduced in early April, would remain in place until any agreement is fully finalised and signed.
At the same time, Iran has maintained control over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important shipping route through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass. Restrictions around the strait have contributed to rising global energy prices.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier that negotiations had produced “significant” but “not final” progress.
Rubio suggested there could soon be positive developments regarding the strait, saying recent discussions could potentially lead to a “completely open strait... without tolls”.
Mediation Efforts
Baghaei told Iranian state television on Saturday that Tehran was preparing a “memorandum of understanding” aimed at extending discussions and eventually securing a final agreement.
Trump also referred to a possible memorandum in a separate Truth Social post.
Meanwhile, Ishaq Dar, whose government has been helping mediate the talks, said recent negotiations offered “grounds for optimism” and suggested a positive outcome could be “within reach”.
Despite the upbeat signals, several US media outlets reported that officials did not expect a formal agreement to be signed on Sunday.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 25 May 2026

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Report Says UK Protesters Face Longer Jail Terms

A growing number of climate and pro-Palestinian activists in England and Wales are being jailed for acts of protest and civil disobedience, according to new research that argues Britain has created a “new breed” of political prisoner.

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The report, produced by researchers at Queen Mary University of London and campaign group Defend Our Juries, says custodial sentences for direct action protests were once uncommon but are now becoming longer and more frequent.
Researchers examined 286 cases involving climate activists and Palestine solidarity protesters who received prison sentences, amounting to a combined total of 136 years in jail. The findings are due to be published on Tuesday.
Rising use of prison sentences
The report links the increase in imprisonments to tougher anti-protest legislation, expanded police powers and the growing use of civil injunctions by companies and public authorities. It also highlights concerns about judges limiting legal defences available to protesters and imposing what it describes as unusually severe punishments.
Of the 256 cases where sentencing data was available, the average period spent in detention was 28 weeks. One-third of protesters received sentences of at least six months, while one in five was jailed for more than a year.
David Whyte, professor of climate justice at QMUL and co-author of the report, said the sentences reflected a political response to protest movements.
He said the use of long prison terms and extended periods on remand showed authorities were treating political protesters differently from other defendants involved in civil disobedience cases.
Concerns over pre-trial detention
The report describes pre-trial detention as “the first line of attack” against protesters, arguing that lengthy remand periods discourage future demonstrations.
Researchers found that in 60% of the cases studied, protesters ultimately received sentences shorter than the time they had already spent in custody awaiting trial.
Among the cases highlighted are the “Filton 24”, a group charged over a protest linked to Palestine Action at a factory near Bristol operated by Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems.
Some defendants spent up to 18 months in custody before trial, despite the standard pre-trial detention limit being six months. Most were later granted bail after the first six defendants were cleared of aggravated burglary charges. Two of those six were also acquitted of criminal damage offences. Eighteen other defendants are still awaiting trial on separate charges connected to the protest.
Civil injunctions and contempt cases
The report found that contempt of court offences accounted for 40% of imprisonment cases examined. These included breaches of courtroom orders as well as violations of civil injunctions obtained by companies or public authorities to prevent protests.
Whyte said the growing use of injunctions was concerning because actions that begin as civil matters can ultimately result in criminal penalties and prison sentences.
Researchers pointed to the case of 69 people jailed following a high court injunction secured by Warwickshire borough council during a Just Stop Oil campaign at the Kingsbury oil terminal in 2022. Some of those imprisoned had been holding placards, according to the report.
A spokesperson for the judiciary defended the independence of the courts, saying judges make decisions based on evidence, legal arguments and sentencing guidelines established under the law.
The spokesperson added that judges and magistrates sentence offenders according to legislation set by parliament and guidance issued by the independent Sentencing Council, while taking account of aggravating and mitigating factors in each case.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 24 May 2026
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SpaceX Starship V3 Makes Debut in Test Flight

SpaceX launched the largest and most powerful version of its Starship rocket on Friday, carrying out the 12th test flight of the spacecraft that the company hopes will eventually take humans to Mars and the moon.

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The upgraded rocket, known as Starship V3, lifted off from the company’s Starbase facility in southern Texas near the Mexican border. The launch came two days after SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk announced plans to take the company public.
The mission carried 20 mock Starlink satellites, which were due to be released later in the flight. The launch followed a scrubbed attempt on Thursday evening caused by last-minute problems at the launch pad.
New Design and More Power
The latest Starship model stands 407 feet (124 metres) tall, making it slightly larger than earlier versions while delivering greater engine thrust. The redesigned booster includes fewer but larger grid fins to help guide it back toward Earth after separation, along with a bigger fuel transfer system supplying its 33 engines.
The stainless steel spacecraft also features upgraded navigation systems, increased computing capability and additional cameras. Engineers have added docking cones intended for future rendezvous operations and lunar missions.
SpaceX has faced several setbacks during previous test flights. Back-to-back launches last year ended in midair explosions that scattered debris over the Atlantic Ocean, while other missions also failed before completing their objectives. Friday’s launch was intended to demonstrate improvements to the upgraded design.
Although Starship is designed to be fully reusable, SpaceX did not attempt to recover any parts during this mission. The first-stage booster was expected to fall into the Gulf of Mexico, while the spacecraft and its satellite payloads were planned to end their journey in the Indian Ocean.
Moon Race Intensifies
NASA is relying on Starship as part of its Artemis programme, which aims to return astronauts to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era. NASA has awarded billions of dollars in contracts to both SpaceX and Blue Origin, the company founded by Jeff Bezos, to develop lunar landing systems.
The companies are competing to provide the spacecraft that will carry astronauts from lunar orbit to the moon’s surface.
While Starship has already completed several brief spaceflights lasting around an hour, Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander has yet to launch. A prototype mission is expected later this year.
NASA plans to follow April’s crewed lunar flyby mission with an orbital docking test next year under Artemis III. During that mission, astronauts aboard the Orion capsule are expected to practise docking with Starship, Blue Moon or both systems.
A crewed lunar landing under Artemis IV could take place as early as 2028 using whichever lander is ready first. NASA aims to establish a long-term base near the moon’s south pole, supported by astronauts and robotic systems.
Private Missions Planned
SpaceX has also begun taking reservations for private journeys aboard Starship.
Businessman Dennis Tito, recognised as the world’s first space tourist, and his wife signed up several years ago for a planned flight around the moon, although no timetable has been confirmed.
This week, cryptocurrency investor Chun Wang announced plans to join Starship’s first interplanetary mission to Mars. Wang previously funded a privately chartered SpaceX Dragon flight that became the first human mission to orbit above both the north and south poles.
Neither the cost nor a launch date for the proposed Mars mission has been disclosed.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 24 May 2026
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Secret Service Responds to Gunfire Reports Near White House

The U.S. Secret Service moved reporters into the White House briefing room on Saturday evening after sounds believed to be gunfire were heard near the White House complex, according to reports from NewsNation and local journalists at the scene.

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Chris Flanagan, an anchor for DCNewsNow who was on White House grounds at the time, said on social media platform X that he heard “about 30 shots” shortly after 6 p.m. local time before members of the press were quickly ushered indoors.
The incident prompted a response from federal law enforcement agencies as authorities worked to verify what had happened near the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, close to the White House perimeter.
In a statement posted on X, the Secret Service Office of Communications said officials were “aware of reports of shots fired” in the area and were seeking confirmation from personnel on the ground.
“We are working to corroborate the information,” the agency said, adding that further details would be released when available.
FBI Director Kash Patel also confirmed on X that FBI personnel were at the scene alongside other law enforcement officers.
Trump at White House
President Donald Trump was at the White House during the incident. Earlier in the day, he had canceled a planned trip to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, amid ongoing reports of negotiations involving Iran.
At around 4:30 p.m., Trump posted on Truth Social that he was “in the Oval Office.”
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung later said on X that the president had been working at the White House since early Saturday morning.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities had not immediately confirmed whether shots had actually been fired or whether there were any injuries, suspects, or arrests connected to the reports.
Law enforcement agencies continued to investigate the situation Saturday evening as security remained heightened around the White House grounds.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 24 May 2026
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Russia War Losses and Economy Pile Pressure on Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing mounting military and economic pressure as the war in Ukraine drags on, according to Estonia’s top intelligence official, who said the Kremlin may soon lose its ability to negotiate from a position of strength.

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Kaupo Rosin, head of Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, told CNN that Russia’s battlefield setbacks, growing casualties and economic strain are increasing pressure on Moscow. Speaking from the agency’s headquarters in Tallinn, Rosin said the next few months could prove decisive.
“In four or five months, Putin may no longer be able to negotiate from a position of strength,” Rosin said, arguing that “time is not in Russia’s favor.”
Battlefield gains slow
Estonia, a former Soviet republic and NATO member bordering Russia, closely monitors developments inside its neighbor. Rosin said attitudes within the Kremlin have shifted as Russian forces struggle to make meaningful advances in Ukraine.
“I do not hear any more talk about total victory,” Rosin said. “People in the Kremlin recognize that the situation on the Ukrainian battlefield is not going too well.”
Analysts from the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies have estimated that Russian troops advanced by an average of about 70 meters a day over a two-year period ending in January, while suffering roughly 1,000 killed or wounded daily.
Recent progress has slowed further. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that Russia was losing between 15,000 and 20,000 troops each month. Ukrainian officials reported more than 35,000 Russian soldiers were killed or seriously wounded in April, broadly in line with the previous two months. Neither side regularly publishes official casualty figures, and the claims cannot be independently verified.
Drone warfare reshapes conflict
Rosin said the war has increasingly become dominated by drones, limiting the possibility of major breakthroughs by either side.
“Both sides are unable to conduct a massive, mechanized breakthrough,” he said.
Ukraine and Russia have both expanded their drone capabilities during the conflict. Ukraine says improved interceptor drones are reducing the effectiveness of Russian attacks on cities.
Ukraine’s defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov said this week that the proportion of Iranian-designed Shahed drones destroyed by interceptors had doubled in the past four months.
Economic strain deepens
Rosin said Russia’s only realistic option for significantly accelerating its offensive in eastern Ukraine would be another large-scale mobilization of troops. However, he warned such a move could create internal instability.
Russia’s partial mobilization in 2022 triggered protests and prompted many men to leave the country to avoid conscription. Since then, authorities have relied heavily on financial incentives to attract recruits.
At the same time, Russia’s economy is coming under increasing pressure from war spending, labor shortages, sanctions and Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure.
Last week, Moscow lowered its economic growth forecast for 2026 from 1.3% to 0.4%. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak blamed labor shortages, high government spending and Western sanctions.
Rosin said Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries, export hubs and pipelines had caused “billions and billions of dollars” in damage to Russia’s energy sector. He added that attacks on Moscow have brought the war closer to ordinary Russians.
Internal concerns in Moscow
Despite the pressures, Rosin believes Putin is unlikely to abandon his objectives in Ukraine. He said the Kremlin would continue trying to weaken Ukraine, including through attacks during the coming winter and political efforts aimed at installing a pro-Russian government in Kyiv.
Rosin also described growing concern within the Kremlin over domestic stability, with tighter security measures around Putin and reports of fears over possible internal unrest.
He said Russian soldiers returning from the war have contributed to rising violence and crime, with some joining organized criminal groups. A study last year by the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that returning soldiers had killed or injured more than 1,000 people inside Russia.
Although Rosin said he sees little immediate sign of mass protests due to the tight control of Russia’s security services, he warned that authoritarian systems can sometimes weaken rapidly beneath the surface.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 24 May 2026

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UK Floats Wider EU Goods Market Deal

The UK has explored the idea of joining a broader single market for goods with the European Union as part of efforts to deepen post-Brexit economic ties, according to reports.

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Industry representatives briefed on the discussions said the proposal has not progressed after meeting scepticism from the EU. Attention has instead shifted to ongoing negotiations covering food, agriculture and energy trade.
The discussions nevertheless point to growing ambition within the UK government for closer economic integration with Europe ahead of a UK-EU summit expected in July.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have spent recent weeks publicly advocating a stronger economic relationship with the EU as part of a wider reset in post-Brexit relations.
Broader trade ambitions
Until now, public details of the government’s plans have largely focused on talks aimed at easing trade barriers in areas such as food, farming products, electricity and emissions trading.
However, it has emerged that UK officials suggested a more far-reaching agenda for the next stage of negotiations. One option discussed involved frictionless trade within a UK-EU single market covering all goods.
The proposal was first reported by the Guardian.
A spokesperson for the European Commission declined to comment directly on the reported UK proposal but said there was room to strengthen industrial and defence cooperation. The spokesperson pointed to Britain’s interest in discussions linked to financial support for Ukraine.
The UK government did not confirm the exact nature of the talks but acknowledged that a range of proposals had been discussed with the EU in recent months and that negotiations were continuing.
EU resistance
Business groups in Britain were reportedly informed both about the proposal and about resistance from Brussels.
According to those briefed, EU officials indicated that such a comprehensive arrangement would be difficult to negotiate while the UK maintains existing red lines, including opposition to restoring freedom of movement.
Some ministers believe recent shifts in the United States’ approach towards Europe could encourage greater openness among EU governments to closer economic cooperation with Britain.
The issue comes as the Labour government seeks to rebuild relations with European partners without reversing Brexit or rejoining the EU single market in full.
Legal framework planned
In the recent King’s Speech, the government announced plans for a European Partnership Bill. The proposed legislation would create a mechanism for aligning UK and EU rules in sectors covered by future agreements.
Ministers have suggested the framework could initially apply to areas such as food trade but could later be extended to other industries if new deals are reached.
The upcoming summit in July is expected to provide further indication of how far both sides are willing to go in reshaping the post-Brexit relationship.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 24 May 2026
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France Eases Dover Checks After Long Delays

French authorities temporarily suspended additional European Union border checks at Dover on Saturday after thousands of travellers faced lengthy delays at the port during the busy May bank holiday weekend.

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Queues built up early in the day as holidaymakers heading for cross-Channel ferries encountered slow processing in soaring temperatures. The Port of Dover said it had raised the “challenging situation” with border authorities, leading to the temporary suspension of the extra checks to ease congestion at the terminal and on nearby roads.
Travellers reported waiting up to two hours to reach the port, followed by an additional two-and-a-half hours for processing once inside the terminal.
By lunchtime, the port said traffic conditions had improved, with queues moving slowly and processing times reduced to under an hour. Shortly after 14:00 local time, officials said traffic had become “free-flowing”.
EU Border System Tested
The busy holiday weekend is seen as an early test of the European Union’s upcoming Entry/Exit System (EES), a new digital border control programme for non-EU travellers.
Passengers travelling through Dover must complete French border checks before boarding ferries to France. The EES system will eventually introduce biometric checks, including fingerprint scans and facial recognition, across 29 countries in the Schengen Area.
Although the biometric machines have not yet been activated at Dover, French border officials were still collecting traveller information manually for entry into the system’s database. The additional processing contributed to the long delays seen on Saturday.
French authorities later reinstated the extra checks shortly before 17:00, after traffic conditions improved. Standard border procedures remained in place throughout the disruption.
Port Frustration Over Delays
Port of Dover chief executive Doug Bannister said more than 8,000 cars were expected to pass through the port on Saturday.
He said 84 kiosks had already been installed to support the future digital border system and to manage high passenger volumes safely.
However, Bannister said processing had been much slower than expected despite prior assurances from British and French authorities.
“I think we’re all quite frustrated,” he told the BBC.
Passengers who missed scheduled ferry departures because of the delays would be transferred to the next available sailing, the port added.
Travel Disruption Across UK
Elsewhere, transport disruption affected rail and road networks across Britain during the bank holiday getaway.
LeShuttle, which operates services through the Channel Tunnel between Folkestone and Calais, reported delays of around 90 minutes because of longer border processing times.
Major engineering works disrupted several rail routes, including lines between London St Pancras International and London Blackfriars, York and Darlington, and Bristol Parkway and Newport. Some services were cancelled or significantly altered.
Industrial action also affected West Midlands Railway services on Saturday.
Traffic monitoring agencies reported widespread congestion on roads across the UK. National Highways issued 22 severe congestion alerts on motorways and major A-roads by mid-afternoon, while heavy traffic was also reported in parts of Scotland and Wales.
Heatwave Conditions Expected
The travel disruption coincided with unusually hot weather across the UK during the bank holiday weekend.
Saturday became the warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 30.5C in Frittenden, Kent.
The previous day saw highs of 28.4C recorded at Heathrow, Cranwell in Lincolnshire and Cambridge.
Forecasters said temperatures were expected to rise further over the weekend, with some areas likely to meet official heatwave criteria. Amber heat-health alerts remain in place in parts of England as temperatures are forecast to stay above 30C.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 24 May 2026
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California Declares Emergency Over Toxic Leak

California has declared a state of emergency as emergency crews worked through the weekend to contain a dangerous chemical leak at an aerospace manufacturing facility in Orange County.

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Officials warned that a tank holding about 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate — a highly flammable chemical used in plastic production — was at risk of catastrophic failure. Thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate surrounding areas as a precaution.
The emergency is centred on a facility operated by GKN Aerospace in the city of Garden Grove, around 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles and about five miles from Disneyland. The theme park remains open and is outside the evacuation zone.
Tank Temperature Continues to Rise
Officials said the damaged tank’s internal temperature was significantly higher than first believed and continued rising on Saturday.
Orange County Fire Authority division chief Craig Covey said crews were preparing for two possible outcomes: a rupture causing a chemical spill, or a thermal runaway reaction leading to an explosion.
Emergency teams have been spraying water on the tank in an effort to cool it and reduce pressure buildup. However, authorities said an inoperable valve had complicated efforts to stabilise the situation.
Covey said officials initially believed the tank had cooled to around 16C (61F) after drone measurements on Friday evening. But when crews later checked the internal gauge directly, they discovered the temperature had climbed to about 32C (90F) and was increasing by roughly one degree Fahrenheit per hour.
“Letting this thing just fail and blow up is unacceptable to us,” Covey told reporters.
Evacuations and Road Closures
Authorities have closed local schools and shut several major road exits to restrict access to the area.
Officials are also constructing containment barriers in case chemicals spill from the tank. Covey said the aim was to stop hazardous material from reaching storm drains or flowing into the ocean.
Orange County health officer Dr Regina Chinsio-Kwong warned residents to report any noticeable “fruity and heavy smell”, which could indicate the presence of chemical vapours.
She said exposure to the vapour could lead to breathing difficulties, dizziness and eye irritation, but added that people outside the one-mile evacuation zone were not believed to face immediate danger.
Covey warned on Friday that the situation was no longer theoretical.
“This thing is going to fail, and we don’t know when,” he said during a news conference.
Residents Describe Uncertainty
Residents forced to leave their homes described confusion and anxiety as emergency sirens sounded across neighbourhoods.
Mark Olsen, who evacuated to the Garden Grove Sports and Recreation Center, told local media he woke to emergency alarms before being instructed to leave the area.
He said uncertainty over when residents could safely return home was difficult.
“It’s just frustrating,” Olsen said.
Company Apologises
GKN Aerospace said it was cooperating fully with emergency responders and hazardous materials teams.
A company spokesperson apologised to residents and said efforts remained focused on protecting the local community, employees and emergency personnel as crews continued attempts to stabilise the tank.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 24 May 2026
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Trump Says Iran Deal 'Largely Negotiated', Hormuz to Reopen

US President Donald Trump said an agreement with Iran had been “largely negotiated”, adding that details of the proposed deal — including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — would be announced soon.

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In a social media post on Saturday, Trump said he had held a “very good call” with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar regarding what he described as a “Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE”.
“An agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries, as listed,” Trump wrote.
He said the remaining details were still being discussed and would be made public shortly.
Hormuz reopening discussed
Trump did not provide specifics about the draft agreement, but said it would include reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway is one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil and gas exports.
The US president has repeatedly insisted that any deal with Iran must ensure Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.
Trump also said he had spoken by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, describing the conversation as having gone “very well”.
Earlier in the day, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran and Washington had moved closer in their positions over the past week, although he cautioned that major disagreements remained.
Speaking on Iranian state television, Baqaei accused the US of making “contradictory statements” and warned that progress did not guarantee agreement on key issues.
Framework under discussion
Baqaei said Iran was seeking a deal “in the form of a framework” made up of 14 points. He added that both sides were finalising a memorandum of understanding that could pave the way for further talks within 30 to 60 days and eventually lead to a final agreement.
The renewed diplomatic momentum follows growing tensions in recent days.
On Friday, anonymous US officials told domestic media outlets that the administration was preparing for another round of military strikes, although no final decision had been taken.
Trump also posted on Truth Social that he would not attend his son Donald Trump Jr’s wedding this weekend because he needed to remain in Washington during what he called an “important period of time”.
Only last week, the president said the existing truce with Iran was on “massive life support” after rejecting Tehran’s demands as “totally unacceptable”.
Blockade and maritime tensions
The temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran began in early April.
The US has maintained a blockade of Iranian ports since 13 April. On Saturday, US Central Command said it had redirected 100 vessels, disabled four ships and allowed 26 humanitarian aid vessels to pass since the operation began.
Centcom commander Admiral Brad Cooper said US forces had been “highly effective” in preventing trade through Iranian ports and increasing economic pressure on Tehran.
At the same time, Iran has claimed military control over waters surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and stated that ships passing through the area require authorisation from the Persian Gulf Strait Authority.
The US and its Gulf allies have rejected Iran’s claims over the strait, while Washington has instructed ships not to comply with Iranian regulations.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 24 May 2026
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Coal Mine Blast Kills 82 in Northern China

At least 82 people have been killed after a gas explosion tore through a coal mine in northern China, according to state media reports.

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China’s state news agency Xinhua said the blast occurred at the Liushenyu Coal Mine, operated by the Tongzhou Group in Shanxi Province.

The explosion happened at 19:29 local time on Friday (11:29 GMT), Xinhua reported.

A total of 247 workers were reportedly on duty at the mine when the incident took place.

Authorities said rescue operations were continuing at the site as emergency crews searched for survivors and worked to assess the full scale of the disaster.

No immediate details were released about the cause of the explosion or the condition of the remaining workers.

Shanxi Province is one of China’s main coal-producing regions and has seen a number of mining accidents over the years despite repeated government pledges to improve industrial safety standards.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 23 May 2026
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Alberta Sets Referendum on Canada Separation

Alberta will hold a referendum in October on whether the province should remain part of Canada, in a move that marks the most serious challenge to Canadian unity in decades.

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Premier Danielle Smith announced on Thursday that voters will decide whether Alberta should stay within Canada or begin the constitutional process that could eventually lead to a binding vote on independence.
The referendum is scheduled for 19 October and follows months of mounting pressure from separatist groups in the oil-rich western province.
A citizen-led petition supporting separation reportedly collected more than 300,000 signatures earlier this year, while another petition backing Alberta remaining in Canada drew more than 400,000.
Polls, however, continue to indicate that most Albertans oppose leaving the country.
Referendum question announced
In a televised address, Smith said voters would be asked: “Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?”
Smith said she personally supports Alberta staying within Canada.
“That is how I would vote on separation in a provincial referendum,” she said, adding that her government and caucus also back remaining in the federation.
At the same time, the premier criticised a recent court ruling that halted a petition seeking a separation referendum. An Alberta judge dismissed the petition process after Indigenous First Nations groups argued they had not been properly consulted, which they said violated their rights.
Smith said the decision unfairly blocked the voices of Albertans who supported the initiative.
“As Premier, I will not have a legal mistake by a single judge silence the voices of hundreds of thousands of Albertans,” she said.
She argued that delaying the issue would only intensify divisions and prolong debate over Alberta’s future.
Long-standing grievances with Ottawa
Support for greater autonomy — and in some cases outright independence — has grown in Alberta over concerns that the federal government in Ottawa does not adequately represent the province’s interests.
Many Albertans believe federal environmental and climate policies have harmed the province’s oil and gas sector, a major driver of the local economy.
There is also a long-standing perception that Alberta contributes more to the national economy through its resource wealth than it receives in return from the federal government.
Smith echoed some of those frustrations in her address, accusing Ottawa of moving toward a more centralised political system and interfering in provincial jurisdiction.
“I categorically reject Ottawa’s attempts to do so,” she said.
While separatist movements have historically remained on the political margins in Alberta, calls for greater provincial powers have become more prominent over the past year.
Legal hurdles remain
Even if voters support the proposal in October, Alberta would still face a lengthy and uncertain path toward separation.
Canada established legal rules for any province seeking independence after two referendums in Quebec, including a narrow 1995 vote in which 50.58% backed remaining in Canada.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Mark Carney said any separation effort would need to comply with the federal Clarity Act, introduced after the Quebec referendums.
Under the law, any future independence vote would require a clear referendum question and a “clear majority” in favour of separation, with oversight from Canada’s House of Commons.
If those conditions were met, Alberta and the federal government would then enter negotiations over the terms of separation.
Carney has recently worked with Smith on energy and infrastructure issues, including plans for a possible new oil pipeline to the Pacific coast.
Federal ministers and opposition politicians also stressed support for national unity following Thursday’s announcement.
Dominic LeBlanc said the federal government believes Alberta’s interests are best served within a united Canada, while Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said he would continue campaigning to keep the country united.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 23 May 2026
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Nigel Farage Visit to Community Cafe Sparks Apology Demand

The founder of a community group in Greater Manchester has called on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to apologise after an unannounced visit by him and his campaign team to a cafe supporting young adults with additional needs.

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The dispute arose during campaigning in Makerfield, where Farage and members of the Reform UK team stopped at a cafe operated by Hamlet Wigan CIC for tea and to use the toilets.
At the time, the venue was hosting a celebration for trainees who had completed their gold Duke of Edinburgh awards. Around a dozen young people attended the event, alongside Andy Burnham, who has long supported the organisation.
Concerns Over Visit
Gemma Crompton, director of the Hamlet, later wrote to Farage describing the visit as “intimidating and overwhelming” for trainees, staff and families.
She said the arrival of a large group, including security staff and media crews, created distress at what had been intended as a private celebration event.
Crompton said the organisation welcomed visitors from all political backgrounds but objected to the way the visit was handled. In her letter, she requested a formal apology and assurances that similar incidents involving organisations supporting vulnerable people would not happen again.
She also accused members of the visiting group of filming and taking photographs without permission, despite requests for media activity to stop once staff became aware of it.
Political Row
Reform UK MP Lee Anderson said the stop had been spontaneous and non-political, describing it as a quick visit for “a cuppa” and to use the toilet facilities.
Anderson questioned why the complaint had been made, saying Crompton had spoken with the group during the visit, posed for photographs and thanked them before they left.
The incident also led to criticism of Burnham after reports suggested he reacted sharply when approached by a journalist accompanying Farage’s team. According to reports, Burnham said campaigners should not enter a venue like the Hamlet unannounced.
Burnham has previously supported the organisation, including attending the opening of its new buildings in 2023. Crompton stressed, however, that the Duke of Edinburgh celebration “was not intended to be a political event or a platform for campaigning”.
Video Response
Following Anderson’s comments, Crompton posted a video online while visiting Buckingham Palace with trainees attending the Duke of Edinburgh celebrations.
In the video, she contrasted Burnham’s attendance with the Reform visit, saying the mayor had arrived alone and without media crews.
She alleged that a group of at least 15 people connected to Reform UK entered the cafe and immediately began filming and taking photographs. Crompton said no consent had been given for the cafe to be used in a political context.
Burnham later backed the organisation’s criticism, saying those involved should “hold their hands up and apologise”.
Reform UK denied the visit had been political. In a statement responding to Crompton’s letter, the party said the stop had been made “in good faith and without political motivation”.
The party also disputed claims that wider filming or photography had taken place, although it acknowledged that staff members had taken selfies with Farage and Reform candidate Robert Kenyon. Reform said some young adults at the cafe had spoken with Farage and shaken his hand.
The statement added that the tone of Crompton’s letter gave the impression it had been politically influenced.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 23 May 2026
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Trump Orders Migrants to Apply Abroad for Green Cards

The Trump administration has announced that many legal immigrants seeking permanent residency in the United States will now have to leave the country and apply for green cards from their home nations, marking a major shift in immigration policy.

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The new guidance, issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on Friday, limits the long-standing “adjustment of status” process that has allowed immigrants already living legally in the US to apply for permanent residency without leaving the country.
Agency officials described the move as a return to the original purpose of immigration law, while critics said it would disrupt the lives of millions of legal immigrants.
New rules for green card applicants
Under the policy, people living temporarily in the US on student, work or other visas will generally be required to return to their home countries to seek permanent residency. Exceptions will apply only in what the administration described as “extraordinary circumstances.”
USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler said the administration was seeking to ensure immigrants “navigate our nation’s immigration system properly.”
“From now on, an alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply,” Kahler said in a statement.
He added that the change would reduce the number of people who remain in the US illegally after being denied residency applications.
The policy coincides with a halt in immigrant visa processing by the U.S. Department of State in 75 countries, further complicating immigration pathways for applicants abroad.
Adjustment of status curtailed
For decades, adjustment of status has been one of the main legal pathways to permanent residency in the US. The process allowed eligible immigrants already in the country to change from temporary visas to green cards without leaving.
Students, temporary workers and spouses of US citizens have commonly used the system to secure permanent residency.
David Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, said the process had been used by more than half of legal immigrants over the past generation.
Bier criticised the administration’s decision, arguing that Congress intended eligible immigrants to remain in the US while their applications were processed.
“These are all people who qualify to stay here permanently and Congress clearly wanted them to have a way to stay,” Bier wrote on social media.
He also described the administration as hostile to legal immigration, warning the changes could cost immigrants their jobs and separate families.
Growing immigration backlog
The policy arrives as USCIS faces a large backlog of pending immigration cases. Bier said there are already around one million pending adjustment-of-status applications.
The backlog has expanded since the Trump administration ordered a pause on immigration applications around Thanksgiving last year after the fatal shooting of a National Guard member in Washington, DC. That earlier policy remains the subject of legal challenges.
Legal experts also expect the latest directive to face court scrutiny. Opponents may argue that such a significant change to immigration procedures should have gone through a formal public rulemaking process before being implemented.
While the administration maintains the policy restores the original intent of immigration law, immigration advocates warn it could create uncertainty for long-term residents who have legally built their lives in the United States.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 23 May 2026
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Paul McCartney Helps Stephen Colbert End ‘Late Show’

Sir Paul McCartney joined Stephen Colbert for an emotional farewell as “The Late Show” aired its final episode after more than three decades on CBS.

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The programme ended Thursday night with McCartney performing Hello Goodbye alongside Colbert, who sang backing vocals during the performance. Musicians Elvis Costello and Jon Batiste, along with members of the show’s staff, also took part in the closing number.
A Return to a Historic Stage
The finale also marked a return to a venue closely linked to McCartney’s career. The theatre that hosted “The Late Show” was also home to The Ed Sullivan Show, where The Beatles made one of their first US television appearances in 1964.
During the interview segment, Colbert asked McCartney whether the theatre still brought back memories of Beatlemania.
“When you close your eyes, do you hear the girls screaming?” Colbert asked, prompting loud cheers from audience members.
“Yeah,” McCartney replied
Asked how often that still happens, the former Beatle answered: “Often.”
McCartney also recalled the band wearing heavy television makeup during their Sullivan appearance, describing it as “bright orange”.
“That’s very popular in certain circles these days,” Colbert joked, drawing laughter from the audience.
Reflections on America and the Beatles Film
McCartney spoke about how the Beatles once viewed the United States as “the land of the free” and “the greatest democracy”.
“That was what it was,” he said. “It still is, hopefully.”
The musician also discussed the forthcoming Beatles biopic project and praised Paul Mescal, who is set to portray him on screen.
When Colbert asked who was “cuter” — a young McCartney or Mescal — the singer replied: “Me,” before adding that the actor was “very cute”.
The End of ‘The Late Show’
CBS announced in July 2025 that it would end “The Late Show” franchise, describing the move as a financial decision made during a difficult period for late-night television. The show first launched in 1993 with David Letterman as host before Colbert took over in 2015.
Earlier in the finale, Colbert, Costello and Batiste performed Costello’s lesser-known song Jump Up.
As “Hello Goodbye” came to an end, Colbert walked to the studio light switch and invited McCartney to join him. Together, they switched off the lights, plunging the theatre into darkness.
The closing sequence then shifted into a surreal scene in which the building appeared inside a snow globe being sniffed by a dog. Colbert’s voice could be heard saying, “C’mon Benny, let’s go,” before the programme ended.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 23 May 2026
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Trump 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' Faces Second Lawsuit

A second federal lawsuit has been filed against the Trump administration’s planned $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund”, escalating legal challenges over a compensation programme intended for people who say they were targeted by the Biden administration.

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The complaint, filed on Friday in the Eastern District of Virginia, argues that the fund was created without congressional approval and violates constitutional limits on federal spending. The suit also claims the initiative breaches the 14th Amendment’s ban on using public money “in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States”.
The legal action was brought by a coalition of nonprofit groups and individuals, including a former prosecutor involved in January 6 cases, the advocacy group Common Cause, the National Abortion Federation, and the city of New Haven, Connecticut.
In court filings, the plaintiffs argued the fund lacked any legal foundation or oversight.
“Created following a collusive agreement between the President and his own administration, this Fund has no congressional authorization, no basis in law, and no accountability,” the lawsuit stated.
Second Legal Challenge
The latest case follows a separate lawsuit filed earlier in Washington, D.C., by former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and Metropolitan Police officer Daniel Hodges. Both officers defended the Capitol during the January 6, 2021 attack and are seeking to block the fund before it is established.
The Department of Justice announced the creation of the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” as part of a broader settlement arrangement involving President Donald Trump. In exchange, Trump agreed to drop a $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service and two additional civil claims.
The proposed fund has triggered criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans, particularly over the possibility that taxpayer money could ultimately benefit people convicted or accused in connection with the Capitol riot.
Under the agreement, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is expected to establish the fund within 30 days. Blanche would also appoint a five-member commission responsible for reviewing and approving claims.
Trump Defends the Plan
Although Trump previously said he was not directly involved in creating the programme, he publicly defended it on social media on Friday.
He said he had sacrificed the possibility of securing a large personal settlement in order to support people he described as victims of a “weaponized” Biden administration.
Trump cited both the disclosure of his tax returns and the FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago property among the grievances connected to the settlement discussions.
The Virginia lawsuit also challenges the administration’s planned use of the federal Judgment Fund, a permanent appropriation typically used to pay legal settlements and court judgments against the government.
Plaintiffs argue the administration is improperly using that fund to bypass Congress’s constitutional authority over federal spending.
Questions Over Legal Standing
Despite growing political controversy, some legal experts have questioned whether the lawsuits will succeed.
A key issue is whether the plaintiffs can demonstrate legal standing — meaning they can show they would be directly harmed by the creation of the fund.
ABC News legal contributor James Sample said the earlier case brought by the Capitol officers may struggle to meet that requirement because many of the harms they cite relate to past events rather than future consequences tied directly to the compensation programme.
Sample acknowledged that the officers had faced threats and harassment since speaking publicly about January 6, but argued those injuries may not be legally connected to the proposed use of the Judgment Fund.
The lawsuits were filed before the compensation fund itself has formally begun operating.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 23 May 2026
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Putin Vows Response to Strike in Occupied Luhansk

Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed retaliation after accusing Ukraine of carrying out a deadly drone strike on a student dormitory in the Russian-occupied town of Starobilsk in eastern Ukraine.

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Speaking at a reception at the Kremlin on Friday, Putin said six people were killed and 39 injured in the overnight attack in the occupied Luhansk region. He added that another 15 people were missing following the strike.
Moscow said the building targeted was a student dormitory and denied claims that military facilities were located nearby.
“There are no military facilities, intelligence service facilities, or related services in the vicinity,” Putin said. He also rejected suggestions that the damage may have been caused by Russian air defence systems or electronic warfare equipment.
The Russian leader said the attack had been carried out in three waves using 16 drones and instructed the military to prepare proposals for a response.
Ukraine claims military target
Ukraine’s military later confirmed carrying out a strike in Starobilsk, saying it had targeted the headquarters of Russia’s elite Rubicon drone unit. Kyiv did not specify whether the military site was located in the same building identified by Russian authorities as a dormitory.
In a statement, Ukraine accused Rubicon personnel of repeatedly attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure inside Ukraine.
The military said Ukrainian forces were striking “military infrastructure and facilities used for military purposes” while adhering to international humanitarian law and the laws of war.
Russian state television broadcast footage of what it said was one of the injured students, identifying her as 19-year-old Diana Shovkun. Reports said she suffered head injuries after being struck by falling concrete during the collapse of part of the building.
No images or videos of the people Moscow said were killed were publicly released.
Escalating strikes
The reported attack came amid continuing cross-border drone and missile strikes by both sides in the war, now in its fourth year since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had struck the headquarters of Russia’s FSB security service in occupied parts of the southern Kherson region.
Zelensky claimed around 100 Russian personnel had been killed or wounded in the operation.
Russia’s defence ministry has not commented on the reported Kherson strike, although a pro-Kremlin Telegram channel reported casualties after what it described as a “massive drone strike”.
Civilian casualties remain a major point of dispute between Moscow and Kyiv.
Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians and residential areas during the war, allegations the Kremlin denies.
Last week, Ukrainian officials said a Russian missile strike on a high-rise residential building in Kyiv killed 24 people, including three girls.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 23 May 2026

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