Straits Times

Isak Andic, founder of the Mango clothing company, died on December 14, 2024, while hiking with his son Jonathan Andic in the Montserrat mountains near Barcelona. The death was initially classified as an accident but the investigation was reopened in October 2025, leading to Jonathan Andic's arrest in May 2026 and his subsequent release on €1 million bail. Jonathan Andic stepped down as vice-chair of Mango's board and denied the accusations in a public letter.

A self-driving bus operated by Västtrafik collided with a tram in Gothenburg, Sweden, on May 25 after braking unexpectedly on its first day carrying passengers. No injuries occurred, and the bus was removed from service for inspection following approval by Sweden’s Transport Agency for trials through 2027. The incident occurred under local authorization with a safety driver aboard.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on May 25 that operations against Hezbollah would accelerate, including increased firepower. A ceasefire took effect on April 17, yet both sides have conducted strikes since then. Hezbollah launched drone attacks on Monday while Israeli forces struck southern Lebanon, killing three people and ordering evacuations from ten villages.

On May 23, a suspect fired a handgun at Secret Service officers at the 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue checkpoint. Officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who later died; a bystander was also wounded by gunfire of unknown origin. President Trump was inside the White House and unharmed; police later cordoned the area.

SIPRI reported that international peacekeeping deployments fell to just under 79,000 personnel by the end of 2025, the lowest level in 25 years, amid a $2 billion shortfall in the UN's $5.6 billion peacekeeping budget. The organization identified funding shortfalls, political disengagement, and geopolitical tensions as contributing factors. Fifty-eight operations were active, with nearly three-quarters of personnel concentrated in five countries.

Donald Trump underwent a physical examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on May 26 and posted that the results showed everything checked out perfectly. This marked his third visit to the facility during his second presidential term, which began in January 2025. Trump turns 80 on June 14.

Egyptian pilgrim Inas Gamal and British visitor Imad Ahmed described personal adjustments to extreme heat during the Hajj, including use of air-conditioned rooms and increased hydration. More than one million devotees are participating in outdoor rites as Saudi forecasts predict daytime highs of 42–47°C. Sources are limited to two center-rated outlets.

A storage tank containing white liquor imploded at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview, Washington, on May 26, resulting in multiple fatalities and disputed injury counts. Some workers remain missing, with injuries including burns and inhalation effects reported among victims including a responding firefighter. No immediate public threat was identified, and the plant produces wood pulp and paperboard packaging materials.

The US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on May 26 against UCLA alleging violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act through deliberate indifference to a hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli students. The complaint references an April 2024 encampment and incidents of physical assault that followed the October 7 Hamas attacks. Core allegations appear across Straits Times, New York Post, and Townhall, while specific details such as weapons used remain limited to one source.

The Texas Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate between Attorney General Ken Paxton and incumbent Senator John Cornyn is scheduled for Tuesday. Donald Trump endorsed Paxton last week. Democrat James Talarico is the party's nominee for the general election.

A Spanish national who sailed on the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius tested positive for hantavirus and was placed in isolation at Gomez Ulla hospital, marking Spain's second confirmed case. The WHO reported 12 suspected and confirmed cases and three deaths linked to the vessel, with no further deaths after May 2. The ship departed Ushuaia on April 1, visited South Atlantic islands and Cape Verde, and completed passenger evacuation at Tenerife.

President Donald Trump will hold a Cabinet meeting at Camp David on May 27 with all members, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, expected to attend. The agenda covers the economy, fraud elimination, small business issues, and foreign policy updates centered on Iran. Multiple sources confirm the date and attendance while showing discrepancies on Gabbard's status and the exact timing of recent US strikes on Iranian targets.

Senators Chris Van Hollen, Cory Booker, and Bill Hagerty along with Representative Mike Lawler appeared on Sunday morning programs to address negotiations between the Trump administration and Iran. The appearances occurred on May 24 and followed party lines on diplomatic engagement versus security guarantees. All statements were reported by Straits Times.

On May 26 the French government reported seven deaths linked to a heatwave that produced record temperatures, with five attributed to drownings. Eight western departments received the first May orange heat alert amid a European heat dome. Official statements indicate causes require post-episode verification.

Supported reporting from the Straits Times describes a nearly three-month-old U.S.-Israeli military campaign, ongoing disagreements between Washington and Tehran, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private assessment of limited influence over U.S. policy. Separate unverified claims from the South China Morning Post allege a draft accord on the Strait of Hormuz and related protests and political reactions.

Between May 24 and May 26, Russia conducted multiple drone and missile attacks on Kyiv that killed at least three people and injured more than 90 others while damaging hundreds of sites. Russian authorities issued warnings on May 25 directing foreign citizens and diplomats to leave the capital and advising residents to avoid military and government facilities. Reports also reference earlier strikes and Ukrainian cross-border actions, with some diplomatic contacts remaining unverified.

As of the afternoon of May 24, the United States and Iran had not released any text of a possible agreement, and details remained unclear according to Straits Times reporting. A US official stated that the two sides had agreed in principle to a deal that includes an Iranian commitment to dispose of its 440 kg stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent, though the disposal mechanism itself is still under negotiation. Iran also holds roughly 11 tons of uranium enriched at lower levels, per IAEA data cited in the same reporting.

The Trump administration announced a temporary agreement with Iran this weekend, mediated by a Pakistani general previously on the U.S. sanctions list. The deal may extend a ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which a quarter of global oil passes. Multiple details remain unverified.

Gunshots occurred near the White House on May 23 when a person approached the checkpoint at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue and fired at officers. The suspect was transported to George Washington Hospital and identified as an emotionally disturbed person subject to a prior stay-away order. The Secret Service is investigating with FBI support.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump stated that significant progress has been made toward a memorandum of understanding to conclude fighting involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. A ceasefire between the US and Iran has been in place since April 8, and Iranian officials have confirmed the existence of a draft agreement. Multiple details regarding the conflict timeline remain unverified or disputed across reporting.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an order to restore international internet access, according to state media reports citing the Communications Ministry. An internet blackout began January 8, eased in February, and resumed after February 28 strikes. Claims about the exact duration of restricted access for most Iranians remain disputed between sources.

Straits Times reported more than 900 suspected Ebola cases and 210 deaths across 11 health zones in three eastern DRC provinces as of late May, along with violence-related disruptions to contact tracing. AllAfrica separately reported the impoundment of a lorry carrying over 200 children and 18 adults in Uganda's Obongi district and the arrest of two individuals for unauthorized travel between districts.

Metropolitan Hilarion, former head of the Russian Orthodox Church's external relations department, was detained by Czech police on May 26 after an anonymous tip led to the discovery of small containers of white powder in his car. Forensic analysis identified the substance as banned, yet authorities released him without charge while the investigation continues. Russia protested the incident diplomatically, and Hilarion denied any connection via Telegram, citing improper search procedures.

Russia issued a warning on May 25 for foreign nationals to leave Kyiv and announced plans for systematic strikes on Ukrainian defense industrial sites, command centers, and drone facilities. The announcement followed a Ukrainian drone attack on a student dormitory in occupied Luhansk that killed at least 18 people. Strikes on May 24 damaged approximately 300 sites in Kyiv, including a Chernobyl museum, and involved the third use of an Oreshnik hypersonic missile.

Donald Trump, who began his second term in January 2025 as the oldest person to assume the presidency, is set to undergo his annual physical on May 26 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The exam occurs seven months after his prior visit, with public photographs from July 2025 showing swollen ankles and a bruised hand, and the White House physician attributing a neck rash to preventative cream treatment.

The Trump administration proposed requiring non-disclosure agreements for federal employees, with the Office of Personnel Management releasing a draft on May 26 that covers new and existing staff. The draft permits civil and criminal penalties for violations, including royalty forfeiture, and extends post-employment restrictions on speaking to journalists about information deemed confidential. OPM cited concerns over unauthorized disclosures disrupting operations.

Kyiv experienced explosions from missiles and drones shortly after 1 a.m. local time on Sunday, with at least three people injured and damage to residential buildings and a school. Ukraine's air force had issued a warning of a possible Oreshnik missile launch, following President Zelenskiy's prior intelligence-based alert. The strike occurred amid mutual accusations of prior attacks, including a Ukrainian drone hit in Luhansk and Russian retaliation orders.