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Trump Returns From China With No Iran Breakthrough

Trump

Trump Returns From China With No Iran Breakthrough

U.S. President Donald Trump returned to Washington on Friday without any clear progress toward ending the conflict with Iran after talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, leaving his administration weighing whether to intensify military action or continue pursuing diplomacy.

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Officials had closely watched Trump’s trip to China, hoping Beijing’s ties with Tehran might help unlock negotiations over the war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil route. However, Trump appeared to come away with little new to report.
Speaking to reporters while traveling back to the United States, Trump said Xi had expressed support for reopening the strategic waterway and agreed that Iran should not develop a nuclear weapon — positions China had already stated publicly.
“He would like to see it end. He would like to help,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News journalist Bret Baier. “If he wants to help, that’s great. But we don’t need help.”
Administration officials had waited to assess the outcome of the meeting before determining the next steps on Iran policy. With the trip concluded and no breakthrough secured, Trump now faces decisions about how to proceed in a conflict that has already lasted longer than he originally predicted.
Debate Inside the Administration
The war has stretched well beyond the six weeks Trump initially projected, while rising fuel costs and economic concerns have put pressure on the administration.
In a message posted Friday on Truth Social, Trump signaled the military campaign would continue, writing that operations against Iran are “to be continued!”
Behind the scenes, officials remain divided over the best strategy. Some within the Pentagon favor a tougher approach, including targeted strikes aimed at forcing Iran to make concessions at the negotiating table.
Others argue the United States should maintain its focus on diplomacy. Trump himself has recently leaned toward that path, hoping a combination of direct talks and economic pressure could persuade Tehran to accept a deal.
So far, however, Iranian negotiators have shown little willingness to change their position since Trump announced a ceasefire in April.
“Well, I looked at it and if I don’t like the first sentence, I just throw it away,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One when discussing Iran’s latest proposal.
Vice President JD Vance said earlier in the week that diplomatic discussions were continuing. He said he had spoken with senior envoys including Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, as well as contacts in Arab countries involved in the talks.
“I think that we are making progress,” Vance said, adding that the key question was whether negotiations would satisfy the president’s conditions.
Pressure Mounts Over Economy
Trump’s impatience with Iran has grown as the conflict drags on. Officials say he has been particularly frustrated by the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has pushed oil and gas prices higher.
Iran’s latest response to U.S. proposals, combined with increasingly confrontational rhetoric from Tehran, has also raised doubts among American officials about whether Iranian leaders are committed to reaching a deal.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said the administration still prefers diplomacy but warned the president had multiple options available.
“President Trump has every option at his disposal,” she said, adding that any agreement would need to protect U.S. national security.
Outside analysts say Trump is searching for a way to break the deadlock. Ivo Daalder, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO, said the president had tried both confrontational rhetoric and negotiations without achieving results.
Political Stakes Rising
At the same time, the domestic political stakes are increasing as the United States approaches midterm elections.
Average gasoline prices have climbed above $4.50 per gallon and could rise further if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Inflation has also accelerated, outpacing wage growth in April for the first time in three years.
Business leaders have privately urged the administration to find a way to end the conflict, according to people familiar with those conversations.
Trump has largely dismissed concerns about the economic impact. Asked earlier this week about Americans struggling with rising costs, he said his focus remained on preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Pressed later on those comments, Trump told Fox News he stood by the remark, calling it “a perfect statement.”
Even so, advisers acknowledge the administration faces increasing pressure to resolve the situation quickly.
“They just want the war over,” one adviser said of discussions with corporate executives, describing their message as a call to end the conflict as soon as possible.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 17 May 2026

• Iranian Conflict

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May 16May 16

Does Political Turmoil Mean Britain Is Ungovernable?

UK-Politics

Does Political Turmoil Mean Britain Is Ungovernable?

Britain’s political stability is under renewed scrutiny as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Keir Starmer following Labour’s losses in recent local elections, raising questions about the durability of his government less than two years after its landslide victory.

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The Labour leader won a commanding parliamentary majority in the 2024 United Kingdom general election, promising a decade of national renewal after years of political turbulence under the Conservative Party. However, recent electoral setbacks across England, Scotland and Wales have intensified speculation over his leadership.
Several Labour lawmakers have publicly questioned Starmer’s direction, with some calling for changes at the top of the government.
The debate has unfolded against the backdrop of frequent leadership changes in recent years. Britain has had five prime ministers since 2019, including Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.
Leadership under pressure
Historian Anthony Seldon, who has written biographies of several modern British prime ministers, said the rapid pace of political change has made the office increasingly difficult to assess historically.
Seldon began documenting prime ministers in the 1990s, when leaders typically served several years in office. In recent years, however, leadership changes have become far more frequent.
His upcoming biography of Sunak is scheduled for release later this year, but the historian has suggested that Britain could soon see another leadership transition.
Possible successors discussed within the Labour Party include Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and other senior figures.
Economic challenges persist
The political tensions come as Britain continues to face long-term economic pressures. The country’s economy has struggled to recover fully since the 2008 financial crisis, with real wages remaining largely stagnant for much of the past decade.
Inflation surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which contributed to higher energy costs and economic uncertainty.
Britain’s exit from the European Union has also been linked by some economists to weaker growth and reduced trade flows.
Government borrowing has risen in recent years, while British government bonds carry some of the highest yields among economies in the Group of Seven.
Fragmented political landscape
At the same time, Britain’s political system has become more competitive.
For much of the past century, elections were largely dominated by two parties: Labour and the Conservatives. In recent years, however, smaller parties have gained support.
These include the centrist Liberal Democrats, the Green Party of England and Wales and the right-wing Reform UK. In Scotland and Wales, nationalist parties such as the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru also play a significant role.
Analysts say this shift has turned elections into multi-party contests in many parts of the country, placing additional pressure on traditional governing parties.
Debate over Labour’s direction
Some political analysts say Starmer’s government has struggled to communicate a clear political message since taking office.
During the 2024 campaign, Labour ruled out raising the country’s three main taxes, limiting its options for increasing public spending.
Ben Ansell, a political scientist at the University of Oxford, said the government has sought revenue from more targeted policies affecting sectors such as private schools, banks and farmers.
Supporters of the prime minister, however, point to some signs of progress. Waiting lists in the National Health Service have recently fallen sharply, and ministers say efforts to reduce treatment delays are accelerating.
They also argue that Britain’s relations with European partners have improved since Labour took office.
Potential challengers emerge
Attention within Labour has increasingly turned to Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, who is widely seen as one of the country’s most popular politicians.
Burnham has promoted policies aimed at combining economic growth with stronger public services in Manchester, which has been among the fastest-growing cities in Britain.
However, Burnham cannot contest the Labour leadership unless he first returns to parliament. A potential by-election in the constituency of Makerfield could provide that opportunity if he chooses to stand.
For now, Starmer has said he will not resign, warning that another leadership change could return Britain to the political instability that marked recent years.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 17 May 2026

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May 16May 16

Trump Defends Remark on Ignoring Americans’ Finances

USA

Trump Defends Remark on Ignoring Americans’ Finances

US President Donald Trump has defended comments that he is not considering Americans’ financial situation while negotiating an end to the conflict with Iran, saying his focus remains on preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

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Speaking in an interview with Fox News host Bret Baier on Friday, Trump described his earlier remarks as a “perfect statement” and said he would repeat them if asked again.
“I’d make it again,” he said after being shown a clip of his previous comments.
The remarks came after Trump told reporters earlier in the week that he was not thinking about the economic impact on Americans “even a little bit” as he works to resolve the months-long Iran conflict.
Focus on nuclear threat
Trump said his priority in negotiations with Iran was to ensure the country does not develop nuclear weapons.
“The only thing that matters, when I’m talking about Iran, they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” he said earlier this week.
“I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing: You cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”
The comments drew criticism from Democrats, while some Republicans defended the president’s stance.
In the Fox News interview, which was recorded during Trump’s visit to China, the president acknowledged there could be “short-term pain” as negotiations continue and efforts are made to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The key shipping route is one of the world’s busiest oil transit corridors. A blockade linked to the conflict has pushed global energy prices higher.
Energy prices and the conflict
Trump said he would accept higher fuel prices temporarily if it helped achieve US objectives in the conflict.
“When you tell somebody you’re going to pay a little more for gasoline for a very short period of time… everybody says that’s fine,” he said.
He also described the reporter’s question that prompted his earlier remarks as “a fake question”.
Fuel prices in the United States have risen sharply since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February.
According to data from the American Automobile Association, the national average price for gasoline has climbed to more than $4.50 a gallon, an increase of roughly 50%.
Trump said he expected prices to fall once shipping through the Strait of Hormuz resumes.
“Don’t forget, they have a lot of boats that are loaded up with oil that are going to bring the oil out as soon as this is over,” he said, adding that he believed the situation would be resolved quickly.
Midterm political pressure
Rising fuel costs and declining approval ratings have added pressure on Republicans as they approach November’s midterm elections.
The party currently holds narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress, raising concerns among some lawmakers about the political impact of the conflict with Iran.
Trump said, however, that electoral considerations would not influence his decisions on the issue.
“I’m not going to let the election determine what’s going to happen with respect to Iran,” he said, repeating that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 17 May 2026

• Iranian Conflict

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May 16May 16

Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton Block Thames Tower Plan

UK

Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton Block Thames Tower Plan

Celebrities including Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton have succeeded in stopping plans for a 29-storey residential tower beside the River Thames in southwest London after a planning inspector upheld the local council’s rejection of the development.

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The proposed 100-metre building, planned for the south bank of the river near Battersea Bridge, had been put forward by Rockwell Property. The project would have created more than 100 flats and commercial space, but faced strong opposition from local residents and high-profile figures who argued it would harm the character of the area.
Planning appeal rejected
Wandsworth Council had previously refused planning permission, citing the scheme’s “excessive height and scale”. The council said the tower would cause an “unacceptable and incongruous” change to the surrounding area and damage the skyline along the Thames.
The decision was later supported by the Greater London Authority.
Rockwell Property appealed against the refusal, prompting a public planning inquiry lasting eight days. However, planning inspector Joanna Gilbert concluded that the tower would harm the appearance of the neighbourhood and rejected the appeal.
In her ruling, Gilbert said the building would have “adverse effects on the character and appearance of the local area” and would appear overbearing in the landscape.
She added that the structure would stand out significantly compared with nearby buildings and would dramatically alter views along this stretch of the Thames embankment.
Objections from local residents
The plans attracted opposition from a number of well-known residents, including actor Felicity Kendal and comedian Harry Hill, who joined Jagger and Clapton in challenging the development.
Jagger, frontman of The Rolling Stones, has lived on the north bank of the Thames since the early 1960s. His bandmate Keith Richards has also lived in the area.
The singer previously said the tower made “no sense” and was “totally wrong on every level”. Speaking earlier this year, he warned that allowing the building could encourage further high-rise developments along the river, permanently changing the character of the riverside.
Clapton also voiced concern that approval of the project could open the door to similar developments. He argued that other developers might follow with additional towers along the Thames.
Development plans and ruling
Rockwell Property’s original proposal was for a 34-storey tower containing 142 flats. The scheme was later revised to a 29-storey building with 110 flats, including 54 designated as affordable housing. The development also included underground parking and a mix of commercial spaces.
The developer said the project was intended to address London’s need for new housing and would deliver high-quality homes.
However, the planning inspector concluded the building would stand out as taller and bulkier than nearby structures. She said it would not fit within a cluster of tall buildings but would instead appear isolated in the skyline.
Gilbert also said the design was “not exemplary, extraordinary, remarkable or distinctive, just tall”, adding that it would not enhance London’s skyline.
In a statement following the ruling, Rockwell said it was disappointed with the outcome but maintained that it believed in the regeneration project. The company said it had made several changes to the design in response to public feedback and had commissioned the internationally known architects Farrells for the scheme.
Despite those changes, the inspector concluded the development would harm the surrounding townscape and dismissed the appeal.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 17 May 2026

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May 16May 16

Fake Moustaches Help UK Kids Bypass Online Age Checks

UK

Fake Moustaches Help UK Kids Bypass Online Age Checks

British children are using tactics ranging from false birthdates to fake moustaches to get around online age verification systems introduced under the Online Safety Act, according to a new survey that raises questions about how effective the measures are in practice.

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The law requires platforms that host adult material or user-generated content to implement stronger age-verification systems to protect minors. Yet new findings suggest many young users still find it relatively simple to evade these digital barriers.
Survey Finds Age Checks Easy to Circumvent
A report by Internet Matters, based on a survey of 1,000 children and parents across the UK, found that 46% of underage users believe bypassing online age checks is easy.
The Online Safety Act was introduced to reduce children’s exposure to harmful content, including explicit material and violent imagery. The legislation has pushed technology companies to introduce new safety features such as parental controls, stronger content filtering and biometric verification tools.
However, the survey indicates that these safeguards may not be working as intended.
While many children simply enter an incorrect birth year when registering for services, others reported more inventive ways of fooling systems designed to estimate age. Some said they used make-up or attached fake moustaches to trick facial-analysis technology into identifying them as older users.
Harmful Content Still Reaching Children
Despite the new regulatory framework, the survey also found that nearly half of children — 49% — still encounter harmful content online.
The findings suggest that although platforms have introduced more visible safety measures, the underlying verification technology can still be manipulated with relatively simple methods.
Parents surveyed also raised broader concerns about the online environment facing children. Among the issues highlighted were the growth of AI-generated material, including deepfakes and synthetic media that younger users may struggle to recognise as false.
Many parents also expressed concern about algorithms that encourage prolonged screen time, as well as the absence of core safety features embedded in many social media platforms.
Call for “Safety by Design”
Internet Matters said age verification alone should not be viewed as a complete solution to protecting minors online.
Instead, the organisation called for a “safety-by-design” approach in which protections are integrated into digital products from the earliest stages of development, rather than added later in response to legislation.
The report also recommends a more targeted approach to risk management. Platforms, it said, should evaluate specific features and types of content according to how they may affect different age groups, rather than relying on a single system applied to all users.
Education and Enforcement Needed
The persistence of simple workarounds — from fake birthdates to theatrical disguises — highlights the challenge regulators face in ensuring age verification systems are reliable.
According to the report, improving technology alone will not solve the issue. Internet Matters is urging closer cooperation between schools, government authorities and technology companies to improve media literacy among children and parents.
Teaching young users how to identify risks online and report inappropriate material, the group said, should form part of a broader strategy to make digital spaces safer.
The findings underline that the Online Safety Act may represent an important first step in regulating online platforms. However, the survey suggests that without stronger enforcement and more sophisticated verification systems, many of the law’s intended protections may remain difficult to achieve.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Compiled from various sources. 16 May 2026

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May 16May 16

UK Faces Weeks of Uncertainty Over Starmer’s Future

UK-Politics

UK Faces Weeks of Uncertainty Over Starmer’s Future

The British government faces a period of political uncertainty as Prime Minister Keir Starmer confronts a potential leadership challenge from Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who must first return to Parliament before formally launching a bid.

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Burnham’s route back to Westminster remains uncertain. The former cabinet minister will need to win a by-election for the parliamentary seat of Makerfield, which was vacated to allow him to stand. The contest is expected to be competitive, with the anti-immigration Reform UK party performing strongly in the area during last week’s local elections.
Financial markets showed signs of unease as the political turmoil deepened. Government borrowing costs rose on Friday, while the pound weakened amid investor concern about instability at the centre of government. The British currency has fallen about 1.4% against the U.S. dollar over the past week.
Leadership pressure intensifies
Speculation over Starmer’s leadership escalated on Thursday when Burnham publicly stated his intention to seek the top job, prompting open divisions within the ruling Labour Party.
Two other senior figures have also positioned themselves as potential contenders. The unrest follows heavy losses for Labour in last week’s local elections, where the party lost support both to Reform UK on the right and the Green Party on the left.
The results intensified pressure on Starmer, with a growing number of Labour lawmakers publicly urging him to step aside.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed appealed for restraint on Friday, warning that a bitter leadership battle could distract the government from addressing pressing national issues, including the cost of living.
“This weekend people just need to take a breath, look at what’s gone wrong this week, and come back next week ready to do what we said we’d do — country first, party second — and focus on delivering the change we were elected to deliver,” he told the BBC.
Cabinet resignation deepens crisis
Political manoeuvring in Westminster intensified after Health Secretary Wes Streeting became the first cabinet minister to resign over the crisis.
In his resignation letter, Streeting praised Starmer’s international leadership but said he no longer had confidence in the prime minister’s handling of domestic policy.
“Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift,” Streeting wrote.
He also criticised the government’s handling of internal dissent, saying the approach had discouraged open debate within the party.
“Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords,” Streeting wrote. “You also need to listen to your colleagues, including backbenchers, and the heavy-handed approach to dissenting voices diminishes our politics.”
Streeting did not declare his own candidacy, but suggested Starmer should step aside to allow a wide range of candidates to set out their visions for the party’s future.
Burnham’s path back to Parliament
Burnham, who served as a cabinet minister before leaving Parliament in 2017 to become mayor of Greater Manchester, has been seeking a route back to Westminster to challenge Starmer.
That opportunity emerged when Labour lawmaker Josh Simons resigned his seat on Thursday specifically to create a vacancy for Burnham to contest.
However, Burnham must still win the Makerfield by-election before he can re-enter Parliament and mount a leadership challenge.
In announcing his candidacy, Burnham acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead.
“I truly do not take a single vote for granted and will work hard to regain the trust of people in the Makerfield constituency, many of whom have long supported our party but lost faith in recent times,” he said in a statement.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 16 May 2026

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May 15May 15

China Says ‘No Point’ in Continuing Iran War

Iranian Conflict

China Says ‘No Point’ in Continuing Iran War

China’s foreign ministry has said there is “no point” in the United States continuing its conflict with Iran, calling instead for a ceasefire and renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.

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The remarks came on Friday after a two-day summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where global trade, Taiwan and tensions in the Middle East were among the main issues discussed.
Beijing did not confirm whether Iran was formally addressed during the leaders’ talks, though Trump later suggested the two sides shared similar views on ending the conflict.
China calls for diplomatic solution
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said the ongoing confrontation between Washington and Tehran should not continue and urged both sides to seek a political settlement.
“There is no point in continuing this conflict which should not have happened in the first place,” the spokesperson said, without directly confirming whether the subject had been raised during the meeting between Trump and Xi.
The ministry added that reaching an early resolution would benefit not only the United States and Iran, but also countries across the region and the wider international community.
China also called for a ceasefire and further diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending hostilities.
Summit discussions and US pressure on Beijing
The comments followed a high-level summit between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies, where relations between Washington and Beijing and several geopolitical flashpoints were on the agenda.
It remains unclear whether the meeting produced any formal agreements related to Iran.
However, the US has been pressing China to use its economic ties with Tehran to encourage negotiations. China is the largest purchaser of Iranian oil, buying roughly 90% of Iran’s exported supply, according to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
Those purchases generate tens of billions of dollars each year for Iran.
Trump said after the talks that Washington and Beijing shared similar goals regarding the conflict.
“We feel very similar,” he told reporters, adding that the United States does not want Iran to obtain nuclear weapons and wants shipping to remain open through a key regional waterway.
Strait of Hormuz tensions
The Strait of Hormuz has become a major point of tension in the dispute between Washington and Tehran.
Disruptions to shipping in the narrow waterway have affected global oil markets for months. In peacetime, the route carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.
A statement released by the White House following Trump’s visit said Xi had made clear that China opposed the “militarisation of the Strait” or any attempt to impose tolls on vessels passing through it.
According to the statement, Xi also indicated that China was interested in purchasing more American oil in the future, which could help reduce its dependence on shipping routes through the strait.
Military supplies and stalled negotiations
Trump also said Xi had pledged that China would not provide military equipment to Iran.
Speaking to Fox News in an interview, the US president said the Chinese leader had been clear about withholding such support, although he acknowledged that China continues to rely heavily on Iranian oil imports.
China has previously said it does not supply weapons to Tehran.
Meanwhile, negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at securing a longer-term agreement to end hostilities appear to have stalled.
Officials on both sides have rejected the other’s latest proposals, leaving the conflict unresolved despite calls for diplomacy.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 16 May 2026

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May 15May 15

Judge Declares Mistrial in Harvey Weinstein Rape Retrial

USA

Judge Declares Mistrial in Harvey Weinstein Rape Retrial

A judge in New York has declared a mistrial in the rape case against disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein after jurors said they could not reach a unanimous verdict.

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The ruling marks the third time a New York jury has considered allegations that Weinstein raped aspiring actress Jessica Mann more than a decade ago. The 74-year-old former Hollywood executive remains imprisoned on other convictions.
The month-long trial focused on whether Weinstein raped Mann in a hotel room in 2013. He had previously been convicted over the allegation, but that verdict was later overturned on appeal. A retrial last year also ended without a resolution after jurors became deadlocked.
Dozens of women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct since 2017, including claims of rape. He has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
Jury unable to reach unanimous verdict
The decision followed three days of deliberations by a jury in Manhattan. On Friday morning, jurors sent a note to the court stating they had concluded they could not agree on a verdict.
Judge Curtis Farber initially instructed the panel to continue discussing the case. Later, he declared a mistrial, saying it was clear the jury was “hopelessly deadlocked”.
“I see no reason to go any further,” the judge said as he thanked and dismissed the jurors.
Weinstein, who used a wheelchair during the proceedings, did not visibly react as court officers wheeled him out of the courtroom following the announcement.
According to the Associated Press, one juror later said that nine members of the panel supported acquittal while three favoured conviction.
Prosecutors weighing next steps
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said prosecutors would now decide whether to attempt another trial.
“While we are disappointed that the proceedings ended with a mistrial, we deeply respect the jury system and sincerely thank all of the jurors for their time and dedication,” he said in a statement.
Bragg also thanked Mann for bringing the allegation and said prosecutors would consult with her before deciding on the next course of action. He added that authorities would continue pursuing sexual violence cases “no matter who the defendant is”.
Weinstein’s lawyers said the outcome reflected the influence of public opinion surrounding the former producer.
They argued that prejudice against him had become so strong that some jurors felt unable to consider a not-guilty verdict, regardless of the evidence. The defence team also criticised prosecutors for repeatedly pursuing the case rather than focusing on other crimes affecting New York residents.
Long legal battle in New York
The mistrial represents the latest chapter in a complex legal battle in New York courts.
In 2020, Weinstein was convicted on several sex-crime charges following testimony from multiple women. But an appeals court overturned that conviction in 2024, ruling he had not received a fair trial because jurors were allowed to hear allegations from women whose claims were not directly tied to the charges.
After the ruling, prosecutors brought new sexual assault charges and the case returned to court.
The original trial involved testimony from three women — Mann, former production assistant Miriam Haley, and model Kaja Sokola — who said Weinstein used his power in the entertainment industry to abuse them.
The latest retrial centred primarily on allegations from Mann and Haley. Mann testified that although she had consensual encounters with Weinstein in the past, he forced her into sex in a hotel room in March 2013 despite her objections. Weinstein’s lawyers maintained the encounter was consensual.
Wider impact and legacy
More than 100 women have accused Weinstein of misconduct, assault or rape. While many allegations did not lead to criminal charges, his conviction in California means he is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison.
The accusations against him helped ignite the #MeToo movement, which exposed sexual abuse and misconduct by powerful figures across multiple industries.
Before the allegations emerged, Weinstein and his brother Bob were influential figures in Hollywood. They co-founded Miramax, a studio behind award-winning films including Shakespeare in Love and Pulp Fiction.
In addition to criminal proceedings, Weinstein has faced civil lawsuits from women who accused him of sexual harassment and rape. One group case ended in a $19m settlement in 2020.
Weinstein has also experienced health problems in recent years and was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer in 2024.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 16 May 2026

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May 15May 15

Kemi Badenoch Flattered by Nicki Minaj's Thatcher Comparison

UK-Politics

Kemi Badenoch Flattered by Nicki Minaj's Thatcher Comparison

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said she felt “very flattered” after rapper Nicki Minaj compared her to former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

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The comment came after Minaj shared a video clip of Badenoch speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons earlier this week. Posting the clip online, the Trinidad and Tobago-born artist wrote that the UK was “truly one of a kind” and suggested Badenoch could one day be portrayed on screen in the same way Thatcher had been.
“They will portray her in film & TV one day… just like they did with Margaret Thatcher,” Minaj wrote.
Badenoch responds to praise
Speaking on Friday, Badenoch said the comparison was flattering, noting Thatcher’s importance within the Conservative Party.
“It was very flattering to hear Nicki Minaj compare me to Margaret Thatcher, who is a heroine of mine, and in fact a heroine to all Conservatives,” she said.
Badenoch also praised Minaj’s music, mentioning the rapper’s hit song Starships.
“I do like her song Starships. I’ve been dancing to it for a long time, as do my children,” she added.
She said the comment from the US-based artist showed that observers abroad could see the role she believed the Conservatives were playing in challenging the Labour government.
“So it’s very flattering that even in the US they can see who is holding Labour to account — it’s the Conservatives, it is me — and that’s quite a nice thing to see,” Badenoch said.
Thatcher’s legacy in British politics
Margaret Thatcher served as the UK’s first female prime minister from 1979 until 1990 and remains one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern British politics.
Her life and leadership were later depicted in the 2011 film The Iron Lady, in which Meryl Streep portrayed the Conservative leader.
Minaj’s comparison linked Badenoch’s combative style in Parliament to Thatcher’s political legacy, although the musician did not elaborate further on the remark.
Political backdrop
The exchange comes shortly after the Conservative Party suffered significant setbacks in regional elections held across England, Scotland and Wales last week.
Despite the losses, there has been little public speculation about Badenoch’s leadership. She has said the party remains confident it can recover politically and has insisted the Conservatives are “coming back”.
Minaj herself has drawn attention for her political comments in the United States. Earlier this year she described herself as the “number one fan” of US President Donald Trump.
The rapper has also appeared alongside Trump publicly. In January she joined him on stage while displaying a “gold card” visa linked to a fast-track immigration programme launched last December for wealthy applicants seeking US citizenship.
Minaj moved to the United States with her family as a child and has since become one of the most commercially successful and influential figures in modern rap.
Her recent remark about Badenoch quickly attracted attention online, prompting the Conservative leader’s light-hearted response during Friday’s comments.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 16 May 2026

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May 15May 15

UK Backs Plan to Ease Deportation of Migrants

UK-Politics

UK Backs Plan to Ease Deportation of Migrants

European countries including the United Kingdom have endorsed a declaration urging courts to reconsider how migration-related cases are judged, in an effort to make it easier for governments to deport people staying in their countries illegally.

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The agreement was unveiled at a summit in Chisinau, Moldova, on Friday and was signed by all 46 member states of the Council of Europe. It calls on judges at the European Court of Human Rights to give greater weight to national governments when handling migration disputes.
Supporters say the initiative reflects growing pressure from irregular migration and people-smuggling networks, while critics warn the proposal could weaken existing human rights protections.
Push for greater national authority
The declaration encourages the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights to defer more migration decisions to national authorities. Governments argue they are better positioned to weigh public interest and security concerns when dealing with immigration enforcement.
Ahead of the summit, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the initiative as a “common-sense approach”. She said the goal was to ensure migration systems cannot be “unfairly gamed” through repeated legal challenges.
The European Convention on Human Rights was drafted after the Second World War to guarantee fundamental freedoms across Europe. It is enforced by the European Court of Human Rights and overseen politically by the Council of Europe.
Friday’s declaration does not amend the convention itself, a process that would require lengthy negotiations and formal legal changes. Instead, it represents a political signal from member states urging the court to take public interest and democratic considerations more fully into account in migration rulings.
The document notes that migration pressures facing European countries have evolved significantly since the convention was written, and in some cases were not anticipated at the time.
It also affirms that states have what it calls an “undeniable sovereign right” to establish immigration policies and remove foreign nationals where this serves the public interest.
Tackling people smuggling
The declaration highlights concerns about organised people-smuggling operations and migration flows that governments say may be encouraged or exploited by hostile states.
It warns that such activities could weaken public support for the European human rights system if governments are perceived as unable to manage migration effectively.
The document also suggests countries should be free to pursue agreements with other nations, including arrangements to process or accommodate rejected asylum seekers outside Europe through so-called “return hubs”.
Italy has already signed an agreement with Albania to house rejected migrants on its territory.
The UK has also explored similar arrangements with other countries, although no formal agreements have yet been reached.
Limits on legal challenges
Another section addresses the interpretation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment.
While reaffirming that this ban remains absolute, the declaration argues that deportation should not automatically be blocked simply because conditions in the destination country are worse than those in Europe.
It states that concerns about healthcare systems or social conditions in a receiving country should only prevent deportation in “very exceptional circumstances” where there is a genuine risk of inhuman treatment.
Governments backing the declaration hope this approach will reduce legal challenges that delay deportations.
Balancing family rights and public interest
The document also addresses cases involving the right to family life, another provision frequently cited in legal challenges against deportation.
It reiterates that this right does not automatically prevent authorities from removing someone from a country.
Instead, it says national courts should normally determine how to balance personal rights against broader public interests such as national security and public safety.
Critics of the declaration argue its language could weaken existing protections or ultimately have little practical impact if judges choose not to follow its guidance.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 16 May 2026

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May 15May 15

Israel Says Hamas Commander Killed in Gaza Strike

Gaza

Israel Says Hamas Commander Killed in Gaza Strike

Israel says it has killed senior Hamas commander Izz ad-Din al-Haddad in an air strike on Gaza City, describing him as a key figure behind the group’s 7 October 2023 attack on southern Israel.

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In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yisrael Katz said Haddad had been “one of the architects of the October 7 massacre” and was responsible for the killing, kidnapping and injury of thousands of Israeli civilians and soldiers.
Hamas has not confirmed or denied the claim that Haddad, a commander in the group’s armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, was killed.
Air strike hits Gaza City building
According to three eyewitnesses who spoke to the BBC, the attack targeted a residential building known as Al-Mu’taz in central Gaza City.
Witnesses said the building was struck by three missiles launched simultaneously from two directions, triggering a large fire.
Rescue teams rushed to the site but faced difficulties evacuating those injured in the blast, they said.
One witness reported that at least one body and several wounded people were removed from the building. The extent of casualties was not immediately clear.
Second strike targets fleeing vehicle
A second Israeli air strike reportedly targeted a vehicle leaving the scene shortly after the initial attack.
Eyewitnesses and a local source said the car was struck around 1.5km (0.9 miles) from the apartment building, killing three people.
Local sources suggested the vehicle may have been transporting Haddad after he was seriously wounded in the first strike.
Witnesses said armed Hamas members wearing civilian clothes had evacuated a badly injured person through a side entrance of the building and placed him in the car before it drove away.
A senior Israeli security official later said preliminary information indicated that Haddad had been successfully targeted.
Strike during ongoing ceasefire
The strike comes despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that took effect on 10 October. Israel has continued to carry out regular attacks across the Gaza Strip since the truce began.
Hamas has repeatedly accused Israel of violating the ceasefire and targeting civilians. The Israeli government says it retains the right to strike Hamas members.
Israel has also accused Hamas of breaching the agreement by refusing to disarm.
Netanyahu and Katz said Haddad had rejected a US-backed plan led by Donald Trump aimed at disarming Hamas and demilitarising Gaza.
“We will continue to act forcefully and decisively against anyone who took part in the October 7 massacre,” the statement said.
Peace plan stalled as conflict continues
Diplomatic efforts led by the United States have struggled to advance since the start of the conflict involving Iran earlier this year.
Washington announced the launch of the second phase of its Gaza plan in January. The proposal envisaged governance of Gaza by a transitional technocratic administration alongside the territory’s demilitarisation and reconstruction.
However, negotiations over Hamas disarmament remain deadlocked.
Hamas has meanwhile reactivated its police force and appears to be reasserting its authority within Gaza.
The war began after a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 that killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage.
Israel responded with a military campaign in Gaza that has killed more than 72,744 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The ministry says 857 of those deaths occurred after the ceasefire came into force.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 16 May 2026

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May 15May 15

Israel, Lebanon Extend Ceasefire by 45 Days

Middle East

Israel, Lebanon Extend Ceasefire by 45 Days

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to prolong their fragile ceasefire for another 45 days following two days of negotiations in Washington, D.C., according to the United States Department of State.

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State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the extension was intended to support wider diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilising the situation along the countries’ shared border.
“We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border,” Pigott said.
Extension agreed after Washington talks
The ceasefire was first announced on 16 April by US President Donald Trump. However, clashes between Israeli forces and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah have continued since the truce was declared.
Despite the agreement, hostilities have persisted along the southern Lebanese border. Reports of cross-border strikes and retaliatory attacks have occurred almost daily since the ceasefire began.
On Wednesday, Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli air strikes killed 22 people in southern Lebanon, including eight children.
Continued exchanges of fire
Israeli forces have stepped up air and artillery attacks in recent days, particularly in the south of the country. The Israeli military says it is targeting Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure.
Lebanese authorities have accused Israel of striking civilians and medical workers, an allegation the Israeli military denies.
Israel says its operations aim to establish a buffer zone in southern Lebanon that would reduce the threat of future Hezbollah attacks across the border.
Diplomatic and military talks planned
Washington said further negotiations are planned as part of efforts to stabilise the situation.
The State Department said the political track of talks would resume in June. In parallel, a separate security dialogue involving military delegations from both sides is scheduled to begin at the United States Department of Defense on 29 May.
Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, described the discussions as “frank and constructive”.
Southern Lebanon, which is largely populated by the country’s Shia community and forms Hezbollah’s main support base, has been heavily affected by the conflict. The region has been under frequent Israeli bombardment during the fighting.
Human rights groups say some destruction of villages in southern Lebanon resembles tactics used by Israeli forces in the Gaza conflict, raising concerns that some incidents could amount to war crimes. Israel rejects those accusations.
Widespread displacement and rising toll
The fighting has forced more than one million people in Lebanon from their homes, according to officials. Many displaced residents come from southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley in the east, and the southern suburbs of Beirut known as Dahieh, areas where Hezbollah has significant influence.
The current conflict began on 2 March, two days after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran.
Hezbollah responded by firing rockets into Israel, prompting Israeli air strikes and a ground incursion into southern Lebanon.
Lebanon’s health ministry says at least 2,896 people have been killed in the country since the conflict began. Israeli authorities report that 18 soldiers and four civilians have been killed during the same period.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 16 May 2

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May 15May 15

Trump Warns Taiwan Not to Declare Independence

BREAKING NEWS

Trump Warns Taiwan Not to Declare Independence

US President Donald Trump has warned Taiwan against formally declaring independence from China, reiterating that Washington’s long-standing policy on the issue remains unchanged.

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Speaking to Fox News on Friday, shortly after concluding a two-day summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump said he was not seeking a situation in which Taiwan moves toward independence.
“I’m not looking to have somebody go independent,” Trump said in the interview.
His remarks came after earlier comments in which he said he had made “no commitment either way” regarding the self-governing island, which Beijing considers part of its territory and has not ruled out taking by force.
US policy and the Taiwan question
The United States has historically supported Taiwan and is legally required to provide the island with the means to defend itself. At the same time, Washington maintains diplomatic relations with China and adheres to the “One China” policy, which recognises Beijing as the sole Chinese government.
Under this framework, the United States does not support Taiwanese independence, a position that has been central to maintaining diplomatic ties with China.
Xi Warns Trump Taiwan Dispute Could Lead to Conflict
Public opinion in Taiwan has long favoured maintaining the current situation. While many people on the island consider Taiwan a separate nation, most support preserving the status quo in which Taiwan neither formally declares independence nor unifies with China.
In the Fox News interview, Trump said he wanted both sides to avoid escalating tensions.
“You know, we’re supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war. I’m not looking for that,” he said. “I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down.”
Summit discussions with Xi
Trump told reporters during his return flight to Washington that Taiwan had been a major topic during his discussions with Xi.
He said the Chinese leader had strong views on the issue and opposed any move toward Taiwanese independence.
According to Chinese state media, Xi warned during the summit that the Taiwan issue remained the most important matter in relations between the two countries. He cautioned that if the matter were mishandled, it could lead to a confrontation or conflict.
Despite the warnings, Trump said he did not expect tensions over Taiwan to escalate into war.
“No, I don’t think so. I think we’ll be fine,” he said. “He doesn’t want to see a war.”
Weapons sales under consideration
The discussions also included a potential US arms sale to Taiwan. Late last year, the Trump administration announced a proposed package worth about $11 billion that would include advanced rocket launchers and various missile systems.
Beijing condemned the plan, which it views as interference in its internal affairs.
Trump said he had discussed the proposal with Xi “in great detail” and would soon decide whether to proceed. He added that he intended to speak with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te before making a final decision.
“I may do it. I may not do it,” he said.
The United States has previously angered China with actions seen as weakening its stance against Taiwanese independence. In February 2025, the US State Department removed language from its website that explicitly stated Washington did not support Taiwanese independence, prompting criticism from Beijing.
US officials in Taiwan later reiterated that Washington opposes any unilateral attempts by either side to change the status quo.
Taiwan responds
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said officials had closely monitored the US-China summit and remained in contact with the United States and other partners.
He said the goal was to ensure continued development of Taiwan–US relations while protecting the island’s interests.
Lin also described Taiwan as a “guardian of peace and stability” in the region, while accusing China of increasing tensions through military activity and political pressure.
China has stepped up military drills around Taiwan in recent years, raising concerns about security in the region and testing the delicate balance that Washington has sought to maintain.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 16 May 2026

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May 15May 15

Xi Warns Trump Taiwan Dispute Could Lead to Conflict

China

Xi Warns Trump Taiwan Dispute Could Lead to Conflict

China’s President Xi Jinping warned U.S. President Donald Trump that tensions over Taiwan could lead to conflict if the issue is mishandled, highlighting deep divisions between the two powers during talks in Beijing.

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The warning came during a highly anticipated summit between the leaders, where disagreements also emerged over the war in Iran, trade disputes and Washington’s relationship with Taiwan, the self-governed island claimed by China.
While the two sides struck a cordial tone publicly, the exchange underscored the continuing strain in relations between the world’s two largest economies.
Taiwan at the centre of tensions
According to comments shared by Chinese officials after the meeting, Xi told Trump that the Taiwan issue remained the most important matter in relations between the two countries.
The remarks were delivered during closed-door talks that followed a public greeting at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.
Before the meeting, Trump praised his Chinese counterpart, telling Xi he was a “great leader” and saying it was an honour to call him a friend. The U.S. president also said he expected ties between the two countries to improve.
Xi’s own public remarks struck a more cautious tone. He said China and the United States must determine whether they could avoid falling into what scholars call the Thucydides Trap — the idea that war can occur when a rising power threatens to displace an established one.
The Chinese leader has invoked the concept before, but its use during the summit underscored Beijing’s concern over tensions surrounding Taiwan.
Later, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said American policy toward Taiwan had not changed. He also warned that it would be a “terrible mistake” if China attempted to take the island by force.
Ceremony and diplomacy
The leaders met for around two hours behind closed doors following an elaborate welcome ceremony that included military honours, national anthems and schoolchildren waving U.S. and Chinese flags.
After the talks, Xi hosted Trump on a tour of the Temple of Heaven and later held a state banquet in his honour.
During a toast at the event, Xi said the two countries had kept relations “generally stable” despite global turbulence. He added that China’s national ambitions and Trump’s political slogan of making America great again could coexist.
Trump described the visit as an honour and said discussions had focused on matters beneficial to both countries.
He also said Xi would make a reciprocal visit to the White House on 24 September, a date that had not previously been announced.
Iran war and economic issues
Trump later said Xi had indicated he was willing to help negotiate an end to the conflict involving Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments.
The closure of the strait has disrupted tanker traffic and contributed to rising energy prices, raising concerns about global economic growth.
China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil, and U.S. officials have urged Beijing to use its influence with Tehran.
Rubio said the administration would argue that the crisis was hurting global economies and reducing demand for Chinese exports.
The White House said both leaders agreed the strait should remain open, though it did not state whether China would intervene diplomatically.
Trade talks and future cooperation
Despite political tensions, both governments said they were seeking progress on economic cooperation.
The White House said the leaders discussed expanding market access for American businesses in China and increasing Chinese investment in U.S. industries.
Trump said Xi had signalled a willingness to purchase 200 aircraft from Boeing. The administration is also hoping for commitments from China to buy more U.S. soybeans, beef and other agricultural products.
Officials have proposed creating a joint trade board to manage economic disputes between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s government said it remained grateful for Washington’s longstanding support after the summit, adding that the United States had repeatedly reaffirmed its backing for the island.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 15 May 2026

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May 14May 14

Israeli Marchers Chant ‘Death to Arabs’ in Jerusalem

Middle East

Israeli Marchers Chant ‘Death to Arabs’ in Jerusalem

Israeli nationalists marched through Jerusalem’s Old City on Thursday chanting anti-Arab slogans during the annual Jerusalem Day procession, an event marking Israel’s capture of East Jerusalem in 1967.

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Participants shouted phrases including “death to the Arabs,” “may your villages burn,” and “Gaza is a graveyard” as thousands gathered to celebrate what many Israelis regard as the reunification of the city. Critics, including Palestinians and rights groups, view the event as a display of dominance over Palestinian residents in East Jerusalem.
The march concluded with Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, raising an Israeli flag near the al-Aqsa mosque compound, one of Islam’s holiest sites.
Tensions in the Old City
Much of the Muslim quarter of the Old City was largely deserted before the march began, as many Palestinian shopkeepers closed their businesses and residents left the area in anticipation of unrest.
Some far-right Jewish activists entered the quarter and clashes broke out between them and Palestinians who remained. Witnesses said both sides threw chairs during confrontations before police intervened and separated the groups. Officers had deployed in large numbers across the area earlier in the day.
Many participants in the march were transported to Jerusalem by bus from across Israel and from Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. The event was organised with support from the Jerusalem municipality and government ministries.
Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, also took part in the procession.
One marcher, a 19-year-old named Ariel Amichai from Modi’in, said he had come to demonstrate Jewish claims to the city.
“I’ve come to show all the world that this is our city,” he said. “God gave us this country and this city.”
Asked what message the march was intended to send to Palestinians, he said they should leave the area and that Jerusalem belonged to Israel.
Counter-Protesters Form Protective Presence
After Palestinian residents withdrew from the Old City, tensions also emerged between nationalist marchers and activists from Standing Together, a Jewish-Arab grassroots group that organised volunteers to monitor the situation.
The organisation said about 400 volunteers wearing purple high-visibility vests had gathered in the city to help protect Palestinian residents and deter violence.
Standing Together organiser Suf Patishi said volunteers were positioned throughout the Old City to try to prevent attacks.
“It is dangerous for us,” he said, adding that Palestinians living in the area faced greater risks.
Some religious Jews also joined the counter-protest effort. One ultra-Orthodox participant, who identified himself only as David, said he was troubled by the behaviour of some in the nationalist march.
“I’ve become appalled by the violent behaviour of people in my community,” he said, adding that he felt compelled to act in contrast to what he described as a desecration of religious values.
Flag Raised at Al-Aqsa Compound
Later in the day, Ben-Gvir visited the al-Aqsa compound — known to Jews as the Temple Mount — where he danced with supporters and raised an Israeli flag.
The move came amid ongoing tensions surrounding the sensitive religious site. Under a long-standing arrangement dating back nearly six decades, non-Muslims are allowed to visit the compound but are not permitted to pray there.
Ben-Gvir has previously called for changes to these rules and has repeatedly visited the site since taking office.
In a message posted on Telegram later on Thursday, he said that raising the flag marked a sign of renewed Israeli authority over the area, adding that governance had returned to the Temple Mount.
Jerusalem Day’s Political Significance
Jerusalem Day commemorates Israel’s capture of East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967. Israel later annexed the area in a move not recognised by most of the international community.
For many Israelis, the event celebrates the unification of Jerusalem under Israeli control. Palestinians, however, regard East Jerusalem as the future capital of a Palestinian state and view the annual march as a provocation.
The event has become increasingly contentious in recent years, with critics saying the procession through the Muslim quarter heightens tensions between Jewish nationalists and Palestinian residents.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 15 May 2026

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May 14May 14

FBI Offers $200K Reward for Ex-Air Force Iran Spy

USA

FBI Offers $200K Reward for Ex-Air Force Iran Spy

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced a $200,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of Monica Witt, a former U.S. Air Force officer charged with espionage for allegedly sharing classified intelligence with Iran.

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Authorities said on Thursday they are still attempting to locate Witt, who investigators believe defected to Iran in 2013.
Witt, a former special agent and counterintelligence specialist in the United States Air Force, was charged in 2019 with passing sensitive U.S. intelligence to the Iranian government. Officials allege she also helped Iranian intelligence services identify and target her former colleagues within the U.S. government.
Espionage Charges Filed in 2019
According to prosecutors, Witt disclosed details about a classified U.S. Department of Defense program and assisted Iranian intelligence efforts after leaving U.S. government service.
Investigators said she collaborated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite Iranian military force responsible for advancing Tehran’s strategic influence abroad.
The indictment filed in 2019 accused Witt of providing classified material and other sensitive information that could compromise U.S. intelligence operations. Authorities said the alleged disclosures also enabled Iranian intelligence to pursue former U.S. intelligence officials connected to Witt’s previous work.
Career in the U.S. Military
Witt joined the U.S. Air Force in 1997 and served until 2008, according to the Justice Department. After leaving the military, she worked as a contractor for the Defense Department until 2010.
Officials say her background as a counterintelligence specialist gave her access to sensitive information and contacts within the U.S. intelligence community.
Travel to Iran
Prosecutors say Witt traveled to Iran in 2012 to attend a conference that criticised what organisers described as American moral standards and promoted anti-U.S. messaging.
Authorities allege she returned to Iran in 2013, where officials provided her with accommodation and computer equipment.
Investigators say she then began working with Iranian intelligence, sharing classified information and helping collect intelligence on former U.S. colleagues.
Others Charged in the Case
The same 2019 indictment also charged four Iranian nationals with conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors accused them of assisting Witt in gathering information about individuals who had previously worked with her in the U.S. government.
U.S. authorities continue to seek information that could help locate Witt, whose current whereabouts remain unknown.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 15 May 2026

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May 14May 14

Oklahoma Executes Man for 2007 Killing of Woman and Baby

USA

Oklahoma Executes Man for 2007 Killing of Woman and Baby

Oklahoma has carried out the execution of a man convicted of killing his former girlfriend and her infant daughter nearly two decades ago.

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Raymond Johnson, 52, was pronounced dead at 10:12 a.m. on Thursday after receiving a three-drug lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, according to prison officials.
Johnson had been sentenced to death for the June 2007 killings of Brooke Whitaker, 24, and her seven-month-old daughter, Kya Whitaker.
Fatal attack in Tulsa home
Prosecutors said Johnson and Whitaker were arguing at her home in Tulsa when the violence occurred.
According to court documents prepared for Johnson’s clemency hearing in April, Johnson repeatedly struck Whitaker with a metal claw hammer, fracturing her skull and causing more than 20 lacerations to her face and scalp. Despite her injuries, Whitaker remained conscious and pleaded with Johnson to spare her life and the life of her baby, who was asleep in another room.
“She begged him to call 911. She begged him to let her mom come get baby Kya. She begged him to think of her children,” prosecutors from the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office said in the clemency documents. Whitaker had three other children.
Authorities said Johnson then retrieved gasoline from a shed behind the home. Prosecutors said he poured fuel on Whitaker and inside the house before igniting a dish towel and throwing it at her before leaving the scene.
Whitaker died from head injuries and smoke inhalation, while her daughter died from severe burns.
Appeals and clemency request rejected
In a statement after the execution, Gentner Drummond described Johnson as “a cruel murderer who inflicted unimaginable pain and suffering on his victims.”
Johnson’s legal team did not file a final appeal with the Supreme Court of the United States seeking to halt the execution.
Earlier appeals had argued that Johnson’s arrest was unlawful, that police coerced a confession, and that his trial attorney conceded his guilt in Whitaker’s death without Johnson’s consent. Those arguments were rejected by the courts.
In April, the five-member Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board unanimously denied Johnson’s request for clemency.
During that hearing, Johnson apologized to the victims’ family and said he had changed during his years in prison.
“I apologize. No excuses, no justifications, a sincere apology,” he said in an interview with the advocacy group Death Penalty Action.
Family sought execution to proceed
Members of Whitaker’s family urged officials to carry out the execution.
In a letter to the clemency board, Whitaker’s eldest daughter, Logan Kleck, said the execution would not erase years of loss but would bring an end to the pain caused by the case.
“Executing him will not give me my mom or sister back,” she wrote, adding that it would stop him from continuing to hurt the family.
Before the murders, Johnson had also served nine years of a 20-year sentence after a 1996 manslaughter conviction.
Johnson was the second inmate executed in Oklahoma this year and the 11th execution carried out in the United States in 2026.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 15 May 2026

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May 14May 14

Health Secretary Streeting Resigns Amid Challenge to Starmer

UK-Politics

Health Secretary Streeting Resigns Amid Challenge to Starmer

Britain’s health secretary Wes Streeting has resigned from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s cabinet, a move widely seen as the opening step toward a leadership challenge following Labour’s poor showing in recent local elections.

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The resignation marks the first departure of a senior minister linked directly to the growing unrest inside the governing Labour Party, where pressure has been mounting on Starmer to step down.
Streeting confirmed his decision in a letter to the prime minister, praising Starmer’s international leadership while sharply criticising his domestic political direction.
“You have shown courage and statesmanship on the world stage — not least in keeping Britain out of the war in Iran,” Streeting wrote. “But where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift.”
He added: “It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election.”
Growing pressure after election losses
Calls for Starmer to stand aside intensified after Labour suffered heavy losses in local and regional elections last week, results that highlighted voter frustration with the government’s economic record.
Despite winning a landslide victory less than two years ago, Labour has struggled to deliver on pledges to accelerate economic growth and raise living standards.
A sluggish economy and persistent consumer price inflation have made it harder for the government to meet expectations among voters and within the party.
Streeting, long viewed as an ambitious figure within Labour’s moderate wing, is widely regarded as one of several potential challengers to Starmer.
Rayner signals possible leadership bid
Another possible contender, former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, also signalled she could take part in a leadership contest.
Rayner, who left the cabinet last September amid questions about her tax affairs, said she had reached an agreement with tax authorities to resolve the issue.
Speaking to the Guardian newspaper, she said Starmer should “reflect on” his position and indicated she was ready to “play my part” in any leadership election if one were triggered.
Streeting and Starmer are both associated with the party’s moderate faction, while Rayner has strong support among Labour’s left wing and has called for higher minimum wages and increased taxes on wealthier individuals.
Starmer resists calls to quit
Starmer has insisted he will remain in office, warning that a leadership contest would destabilise the government at a time when it faces major domestic and international challenges.
He told lawmakers that an internal fight could create “chaos” when the government should instead focus on issues including the cost-of-living crisis and conflict in the Middle East.
Some economic data offered the prime minister limited support. Britain’s economy grew by 0.6% in the first quarter of the year, up from 0.2% in the previous three months, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Finance minister Rachel Reeves said the figures suggested the government’s economic strategy was beginning to deliver results.
She told the BBC that the recovery was possible because the government had restored economic stability, adding that political upheaval could put that progress at risk.
Other figures linked to leadership race
Within Labour, attention has also turned to other figures who might enter a potential leadership contest.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has been widely mentioned as a possible candidate, although he would first need to return to Parliament. Allies have suggested a sitting MP could resign to allow him to contest a by-election.
Burnham cancelled his regular appearance on a local BBC radio programme this week, saying he needed to prioritise discussions following the election results.
Political analysts say Labour has historically been reluctant to remove its leaders while in government, unlike the Conservative Party.
Jonathan Tonge, a politics professor at the University of Liverpool, said Labour had often endured electoral defeats but rarely moved against its leaders.
Still, he warned the current unrest could evolve into a serious internal conflict despite the party’s large parliamentary majority.
“If a civil war opens up within a Labour Party that’s supposed to be governing us at present, it’s an extraordinary state of affairs given it’s less than two years since Keir Starmer won one of Labour’s greatest election victories ever,” he said.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 15 May 2026

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May 14May 14

Farage’s £5m Gift From Thailand-Based Donor to Be Probed

UK-Politics

Farage’s £5m Gift From Thailand-Based Donor to Be Probed

Nigel Farage has said a £5m gift from a billionaire supporter was intended as a reward for his long-running campaign in favour of Brexit, as questions continue over whether the payment should have been declared after he entered Parliament.

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The leader of Reform UK told The Sun that the money, provided by donor Christopher Harborne, was given on a “completely unconditional basis” and did not influence his return to politics.
The payment is now under scrutiny after critics argued it should have been disclosed when Nigel Farage was elected as MP for Clacton in 2024.
Gift linked to Brexit campaigning
Farage said the donation reflected appreciation for his decades-long involvement in the campaign that led to the UK leaving the European Union.
“It’s very unusual for someone to give up 27 years of their life to campaign for something,” he said, adding that the gift was provided without conditions.
According to Farage, the money was “given as a reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years”.
He also rejected suggestions that the payment influenced his political decisions.
Asked whether the donation affected his return to public life, he said it had not, adding: “I cannot be bought by anybody.”
Investigation into declaration rules
The UK Parliament’s standards watchdog has opened an inquiry to determine whether Farage breached Commons rules by not registering the payment.
Under parliamentary guidelines, MPs must declare financial interests and certain benefits received in the year before they are elected within one month of entering Parliament.
Farage has previously argued that he had no obligation to register the payment. He said the gift was made before he became an MP and was intended to fund his personal security rather than political activity.
Rules governing MPs’ conduct state that purely personal gifts or benefits — including family gifts or commercial loans — would not normally require registration. However, they also say that both the donor’s motives and the intended use of a gift should be considered. If there is uncertainty, MPs are advised to register the benefit.
If an investigation finds that the code of conduct has been breached, sanctions can range from a written or oral apology to suspension from the House of Commons or, in serious cases, expulsion.
Political criticism and donor response
Opposition parties have said Farage must clarify the circumstances surrounding the payment.
Both the Conservative Party and the Labour Party have raised concerns about the donation, with the Conservatives writing to the parliamentary standards commissioner and the Electoral Commission to request further scrutiny.
Harborne, a British cryptocurrency investor based in Bangkok, has previously defended the gift. In comments reported by The Telegraph in April, he said he did not expect anything in return beyond helping ensure Farage’s safety.
Harborne also said the donation reflected his admiration for Farage’s efforts over many years to achieve Brexit.
The businessman has been a major financial backer of Reform UK. Last year he gave the party £9m in a single donation, the largest ever contribution to a UK political party from a living individual.
In total, Harborne provided £12m to Reform UK in 2025 and has previously donated to the Conservative Party.
Sources within Reform say the separate £5m payment to Farage was made in early 2024, before he had decided to stand as a parliamentary candidate.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 15 May 2026

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webfact

May 14May 14

Forecasters Warn of Potential ‘Super’ El Niño Event

Weather

Forecasters Warn of Potential ‘Super’ El Niño Event

New climate forecasts indicate growing confidence that a developing El Niño in the tropical Pacific Ocean could become one of the strongest on record, raising concerns about record global temperatures and significant humanitarian consequences.

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Sea surface temperatures across parts of the Pacific have been rising quickly, with recent data showing waters around 0.5C above the long-term average — a threshold often used to signal the onset of El Niño, a natural climate pattern marked by warming ocean waters in the equatorial Pacific.
Scientists expect the event to intensify over the coming months and possibly peak in autumn as a very strong, or “super,” El Niño.
Meteorologists warn that such an event could disrupt weather systems worldwide and increase the likelihood that 2027 becomes the hottest year ever recorded.
Forecasts point to rapid development
In its latest outlook, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said El Niño is likely to begin within weeks. The agency estimates a roughly two-in-three probability that the event will become strong or very strong by winter.
The recent pace of warming in the tropical Pacific has been unusually rapid.
Nathaniel Johnson, a meteorologist at NOAA, described the development as potentially rare if the trend continues, noting the shift from last winter’s La Niña — the cooler phase of the Pacific climate cycle — to a powerful El Niño within a year.
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) also tracks the phenomenon but uses slightly stricter criteria. Its forecasts require sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific to exceed 0.8C above average and signs that trade winds in the western Pacific have reversed, indicating the warming ocean is beginning to influence the atmosphere.
Seasonal forecasts made during spring have historically been less reliable, but scientists say predictive models are unusually consistent this year.
What defines a strong El Niño?
Forecasters monitor a key region of the Pacific known as Niño3.4, calculating a three-month average of sea surface temperatures compared with historical norms.
A strong El Niño occurs when this temperature anomaly exceeds 1.5C.
Forecasts from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), NOAA and BoM broadly agree on the potential scale of the event.
The latest ECMWF projections show that more than half of its models expect temperatures in the region to rise by over 2.5C by autumn. Johnson said values above this threshold would represent a historically powerful event.
Some forecasts even indicate the temperature anomaly could exceed 3C. That would surpass the current known peak of 2.7C recorded in 1877, although scientists note that measurements from that period were limited and uncertain.
The 1877 event lasted about 18 months and was associated with severe droughts and widespread famine across Asia, Brazil and Africa, while causing intense flooding in areas including Peru.
More recently, a very strong El Niño occurred in 2015–2016 when the three-month Niño3.4 temperature anomaly reached 2.4C.
Possible global consequences
El Niño events typically raise the global average temperature by about 0.2C as warmer waters release additional heat into the atmosphere.
Liz Stephens, professor of climate risk and resilience at the University of Reading, said a strong event could push global temperatures to new records.
“We’re probably looking at record global temperatures next year, especially if this is a very strong El Niño event,” she told the BBC.
El Niño can significantly alter weather patterns around the world. Flooding is common in northern Peru and southern Ecuador, and heavy rainfall can also affect East Africa, Central Asia and parts of southern North America.
At the same time, the phenomenon tends to suppress Atlantic tropical storms. Early forecasts already suggest this year’s Atlantic hurricane season may be quieter than usual.
However, fewer storms can bring reduced rainfall to Central America, raising the risk of drought.
Other regions, including Australia, Indonesia and northern South America, often experience increased drought and wildfire risk during strong El Niño periods, potentially damaging agriculture and global food supplies.
Stephens warned that these effects could carry major humanitarian consequences, especially as global food markets face pressure.
“If you get a reduction in crop yields because of drought or flooding, that drives prices even higher,” she said.
Wider climate pressures
Supply disruptions in fertiliser markets — linked to tensions affecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — are already pushing up costs. Combined with potential crop losses linked to El Niño, this could reduce food availability and increase prices in the months ahead.
Scientists say the overall humanitarian impact will depend on the strength of the event and other global developments.
For the UK, the direct effects are less predictable. However, climate researchers at the Met Office say El Niño conditions are among several factors that can increase the likelihood of colder winters.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 15 May 2026

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webfact

May 14May 14

Trump Says Xi Won’t Provide Military Equipment to Iran

China

Trump Says Xi Won’t Provide Military Equipment to Iran

US President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged during talks in Beijing that China would not supply military equipment to Iran, while noting that Beijing intends to maintain its economic relationship with Tehran.

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Trump made the remarks during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday, describing what he said was a clear commitment from the Chinese leader during their discussions.
Claim of pledge during Beijing talks
Trump said Xi directly assured him that China would not send military equipment to Iran.
“He said he’s not going to give them military equipment. That’s a big statement. He said that today,” Trump told Hannity in the interview clip. He added that Xi had delivered the message firmly, saying the Chinese leader “said that strongly.”
Trump did not provide additional details about the context of the discussion or whether the pledge was part of a broader agreement between the two countries.
China’s oil purchases from Iran
While describing the conversation, Trump said Xi also stressed China’s economic ties with Iran, particularly Beijing’s continued purchase of Iranian oil.
According to Trump, Xi indicated that China planned to maintain those purchases.
China buys “a lot of their oil” from Iran, Trump said, adding that Xi told him “they’d like to keep doing that.”
China has long been one of the main buyers of Iranian crude, maintaining energy trade with Tehran despite various international tensions and sanctions regimes.
Strait of Hormuz discussed
Trump also said the two leaders discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global oil supplies.
He said Xi expressed support for reopening the strait after disruptions and shared what Trump described as a light-hearted remark about recent events affecting the waterway.
Recounting the exchange, Trump said Xi joked: “You know, they stopped it, then you stopped them.”
According to Trump, the Chinese leader also raised concerns about reports that Iran had been charging tolls to vessels passing through the strait.
Trump said Xi conveyed frustration about the situation and indicated he would prefer the route to operate normally.
The Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf to global shipping lanes, is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors, with a significant share of global oil shipments passing through it.
Focus on security and trade
Trump’s comments suggest the discussions with Xi touched on both regional security issues and China’s economic relationship with Iran.
While Trump highlighted Xi’s alleged pledge on military equipment, he also emphasized that China intends to continue buying Iranian oil, underscoring the dual track of security concerns and commercial interests raised during their talks.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Compiled from various sources. 15 May 2026

• Iranian Conflict

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May 14May 14

US Intelligence Casts Doubt on Trump Iran Claims

Iranian Conflict

US Intelligence Casts Doubt on Trump Iran Claims

US intelligence assessments indicate that Iran’s military capabilities—particularly its missile systems—remain more intact than public statements by President Donald Trump have suggested following US-Israeli strikes earlier this year.

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The Trump administration has repeatedly argued that Iran’s forces were heavily weakened during bombing campaigns that preceded a ceasefire in April. However, intelligence findings reported by US media outlets indicate that Iran retains significant operational capacity.
Trump on Tuesday denounced reporting on those assessments, calling it “virtual treason” in a social media post.
Intelligence assessments on Iran’s capabilities
In early April, CNN reported that an intelligence review found Iran still possessed a substantial portion of its drone arsenal as well as a large share of its coastal missile systems.
Those findings contrasted with Trump’s public remarks during a national address that week. The president said Iran’s ability to launch missiles and drones had been “dramatically curtailed” and described the damage to its weapons factories and rocket launchers as severe.
“Very few of them left,” Trump said at the time, adding that the scale of losses inflicted on Iran was unprecedented in modern warfare.
Yet in the weeks following the ceasefire, Iran reportedly used the pause in fighting to recover launchers buried or damaged in earlier strikes, according to subsequent reporting by CNN.
Analysts say this helps explain how Iran has been able to restrict shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a choke point for global energy supplies.
Missile sites still operational
Further reporting by The New York Times cited a US intelligence assessment indicating Iran still has “operational access” to most of its missile infrastructure along the strait.
According to the report, Iran can access all but three of its 33 missile sites positioned along the waterway.
Intelligence sources cited in the coverage also suggested Iran’s economy could withstand the current US naval blockade of its ports for up to four months without severe destabilization.
Despite these assessments, Trump has continued to describe Iran’s military capabilities using terms such as “decimated,” and has argued the United States could quickly end the conflict if it chose to do so.
Officials decline to discuss classified findings
Senior military and defence officials have declined to confirm or dispute the intelligence reports publicly.
During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine was asked whether the Times report contradicted Trump’s earlier claim that 80% of Iran’s missile capability had been destroyed.
Caine said battle damage assessments were classified and he could not comment in that forum.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also declined to address the reports directly.
“Why would I validate what people may leak or not leak?” Hegseth told lawmakers. “We don’t talk about those things.”
Earlier in April, however, Hegseth said Iran’s missile programme had been “functionally destroyed,” saying launchers, production facilities and stockpiles had been depleted and largely rendered ineffective.
Dispute over administration messaging
During the same hearing, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy suggested the administration’s statements in classified briefings differed from its public messaging.
Murphy argued that private briefings had indicated there were limited military options available to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Hegseth rejected that claim, saying the United States had multiple potential military means to reopen the shipping lane if required.
He added that the administration’s preferred approach was to pursue a longer-term arrangement that would restore international trade through the waterway.
Earlier intelligence warnings
Some intelligence projections before the conflict had anticipated Iran might attempt to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz if attacked. Analysts had also assessed that killing Iran’s supreme leader would not necessarily bring down the country’s ruling system.
Retired US Navy Admiral James Stavridis said intelligence agencies were fulfilling their role by presenting assessments regardless of political implications.
“If these reports are accurate, this is what you want your intelligence agencies to do,” Stavridis said during an interview on CNN.
Wider debate over administration claims
The dispute reflects a broader pattern in which critics argue the Trump administration has used strong or exaggerated language in defending its policies.
Questions have been raised about the scale of arrests in immigration enforcement, the justification for certain federal spending cuts and claims of widespread voter fraud—issues where critics say evidence has not supported the administration’s assertions.
Some analysts say the administration’s description of the war’s impact on Iran may fit within that wider debate over how its policies and outcomes are presented to the public.


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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 15 May 2026

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webfact

May 14May 14

Senate Rejects 7th Bid to Limit Trump’s Iran War Powers

USA

Senate Rejects 7th Bid to Limit Trump’s Iran War Powers

The U.S. Senate has narrowly rejected another Democratic attempt to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to use military force against Iran, though the latest vote saw an additional Republican senator break ranks to support the measure.

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A procedural motion to discharge the resolution from committee failed by a vote of 49 to 50 on Wednesday. Republican Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined most Democrats in backing the move. Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only member of his party to oppose it.
The vote marked the seventh effort by Senate Democrats since the conflict with Iran began on Feb. 28 to advance a resolution under the War Powers framework aimed at restricting the president’s military authority.
New Republican Support
Murkowski’s vote represented a shift from her earlier position. She had previously opposed similar measures but said circumstances had changed after a key 60-day period outlined in the War Powers Resolution passed earlier this month.
Speaking to reporters, Murkowski said she had expected greater clarity from the administration about its legal position once that period ended but had not received it. She said this prompted her to support moving the resolution forward so lawmakers could examine Congress’s responsibilities under the law.
“We’re in a different place than we were last time we voted on this,” she said.
The resolution, introduced by Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, would have required the president to withdraw U.S. armed forces from hostilities involving Iran unless Congress approved the action through a declaration of war or a specific authorization for the use of military force.
Debate Over War Powers Deadline
Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, presidents must inform Congress within 48 hours of deploying military forces into hostilities if there is no prior authorization. The law also limits such engagements to 60 days without congressional approval.
As that deadline approached, however, the Trump administration argued the requirement did not apply because active hostilities had ended with a ceasefire reached on April 7. In a letter to congressional leaders dated May 1, the president said fighting with Iran had “terminated.”
Some lawmakers have challenged that interpretation. Merkley told reporters before the vote that he did not accept the administration’s claim that the 60-day clock had effectively stopped.
He said the conflict may currently be at a different stage but could escalate again, making congressional oversight necessary.
Republicans Back Administration View
Republican Senator Jim Risch of Idaho, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, defended the administration’s position during debate ahead of the vote.
Risch said the hostilities referenced in the War Powers law had ended with the April ceasefire and therefore the time limits imposed by the legislation were not applicable.
“The operations that began on Feb. 28 have been terminated,” he said. “The hostilities ended with the April 7 ceasefire. They’re over — full stop.”
Political Pressure Around the Vote
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, who has led the Senate effort to invoke war powers restrictions, said the vote would test Republican willingness to assert Congress’s role in decisions over war.
Kaine said lawmakers were facing increasing questions from constituents about the economic impact of the conflict, including rising fuel costs.
He said he believed the Senate could eventually vote to halt the war, even if that outcome was not achieved this time.
Merkley also argued that some Republican lawmakers were growing more skeptical about the military operation but remained reluctant to oppose the president.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune urged colleagues to support the administration, noting that Trump was abroad in China at the time of the vote for talks covering trade and security matters.
Ongoing Questions Over Authority
Murkowski has indicated she intends to introduce legislation formally authorizing the use of military force against Iran.
During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, she questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about whether congressional approval would strengthen the administration’s legal footing. Hegseth responded that the administration believes the president already possesses the necessary authority under Article II of the Constitution to carry out military action if required.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 14 May 2026

• Iranian Conflict

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webfact

May 13May 13

China Alters Rubio Name to Allow Visit for Trump-Xi Talks

China

China Alters Rubio Name to Allow Visit for Trump-Xi Talks

China adjusted the Chinese transliteration of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s name to enable his entry for high-level talks between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to media reports.

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Rubio had previously been barred from entering China after the government sanctioned him in 2020 while he was serving as a US senator. The measures were imposed in response to his criticism of Beijing’s policies toward the Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang region and other alleged human rights violations.
The sanctions included a travel ban that could have complicated plans for Rubio to accompany Trump to Beijing for this week’s summit with Xi.
However, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy said the restrictions would not prevent Rubio from travelling as part of the US delegation.
“The sanctions target Mr Rubio’s words and deeds when he served as a US senator concerning China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Tuesday.
Linguistic workaround
According to AFP, Chinese authorities began using a slightly different character to represent the first syllable of Rubio’s surname after he became secretary of state last year.
The change altered the way his name appears in Chinese without significantly affecting how it is pronounced.
Two diplomats told AFP they believed the adjustment functioned as a bureaucratic workaround. Because the sanctions were imposed using the earlier version of Rubio’s name, the altered spelling effectively sidestepped the restriction.
Chinese state media and official government communications have since used the revised transliteration when referring to Rubio.
When asked about the change last year, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said she had not noticed the shift but would look into the matter, according to The Guardian.
Background to the sanctions
Beijing sanctioned Rubio in 2020 after he criticised the Chinese government’s policies in Xinjiang and supported measures in Washington addressing alleged human rights abuses against the Uyghur population.
At the time, China announced counter-sanctions against several US lawmakers and officials who had backed legislation or public statements condemning its actions in the region.
Despite the earlier restrictions, Rubio joined Trump’s delegation to China for a two-day visit centred on strategic issues between the two powers.
Taiwan and regional tensions
Rubio has been a long-time critic of China’s government and has frequently warned about the strategic rivalry between Washington and Beijing.
During his confirmation hearing as secretary of state in January last year, he described China as the “most potent and dangerous” near-peer adversary the United States has ever faced.
He has also consistently advocated for strong US ties with Taiwan, the self-governing island claimed by China.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the summit, Rubio said Taiwan was likely to feature in discussions between the two leaders.
“I’m sure Taiwan will be a topic of conversation; it always is,” he said last week.
Rubio added that both countries understood the importance of avoiding instability in the region.
“I think both countries understand that it is in neither one of our interests to see anything destabilizing happen in that part of the world,” he said, referring to Taiwan and the broader Indo-Pacific.
The US State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 14 May 2026

• USA

• 4 comments
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webfact

May 13May 13

US Senate Confirms Kevin Warsh as Next Fed Chair

USA

US Senate Confirms Kevin Warsh as Next Fed Chair

The US Senate has confirmed Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Federal Reserve, clearing the way for him to succeed Jerome Powell when Powell’s term ends later this week.

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Lawmakers approved Warsh on Wednesday in a 54–45 vote. Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only member of his party to support the nomination.
The confirmation follows weeks of political tension surrounding a criminal investigation into Powell that had stalled progress on Warsh’s nomination.
Probe into Powell Dropped
The Department of Justice moved last month to drop its criminal investigation into Powell, which had focused on alleged false testimony to Congress related to an office renovation project at the central bank.
Powell has consistently rejected the allegations, describing the probe as a politically motivated attempt to influence the Federal Reserve’s decisions on interest rates.
Following the Justice Department’s decision, Washington US Attorney Jeaninne Pirro said the matter would instead be reviewed by the Federal Reserve’s inspector general.
The investigation had complicated Warsh’s path to confirmation. Several senators from both parties had previously blocked the nomination in the Senate Banking Committee while the inquiry remained active.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who had vowed to oppose Warsh while the probe was ongoing, changed his position after the Justice Department dropped the case. Tillis later supported advancing the nomination in committee, helping send it to a full Senate vote.
Powell to Remain on Fed Board
Powell’s four-year term as Federal Reserve chair ends on Friday. However, he has said he intends to remain a member of the central bank’s Board of Governors while the inspector general’s investigation continues.
Speaking at a press conference in Washington last month, Powell said he would stay in place until the inquiry had been completed with full transparency.
He also warned that legal challenges targeting the central bank could undermine its ability to conduct monetary policy independently of political pressure.
Powell’s term as a member of the board runs until 2028, allowing him to continue participating in decisions on US interest rates and monetary policy even after stepping down as chair.
Warsh Takes Helm Amid Economic Pressures
Warsh, a former Federal Reserve governor, will begin a four-year term as chair. He is currently a fellow at the Hoover Institution, a conservative think tank based at Stanford University.
During his earlier tenure at the Fed in the late 2000s and early 2010s, Warsh was widely viewed as an advocate of higher interest rates, arguing they were necessary to keep inflation low and stable.
More recently, however, he has expressed support for lower borrowing costs and criticised the central bank’s warnings that tariffs introduced last year could push inflation higher.
Warsh assumes leadership of the Fed at a time of renewed inflation pressures. US government data released on Tuesday showed prices rising for a second consecutive month as the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran pushed gasoline costs higher.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, annual inflation has climbed to its highest level in three years.
Interest Rate Outlook
The Federal Reserve has kept interest rates unchanged at its past three policy meetings in 2026. Prior to that, the central bank lowered rates by a quarter of a percentage point at three consecutive meetings.
Any move to raise rates could increase borrowing costs for households and businesses, potentially slowing economic growth.
Financial markets currently expect a roughly 60% chance that interest rates will remain unchanged for the rest of the year, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. The probability of a rate increase by year’s end stands at about 30%.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 14 May 2026

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May 13May 13