{"id":2839,"date":"2026-05-25T10:39:43","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T10:39:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/25\/first-thing-us-and-iran-inch-closer-to-peace-deal-as-trump-faces-criticism-from-gop-hawks\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T10:39:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T10:39:43","slug":"first-thing-us-and-iran-inch-closer-to-peace-deal-as-trump-faces-criticism-from-gop-hawks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=2839","title":{"rendered":"First Thing: US and Iran inch closer to peace deal as Trump faces criticism from GOP hawks"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"2d0afd08-1e5c-405e-9149-73b248e200b2\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Women in black hijabs gather around a large portrait of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in clerical attire\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/ed6a5db1eba97e12d7d087b6e2fad432aa4237e5\/536_113_4639_3712\/master\/4639.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"372.0801896960552\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Women gather around a portrait of Iran\u2019s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, during a ceremony honouring the armed forces.<\/span> Photograph: Vahid Salemi\/AP<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"2d0afd08-1e5c-405e-9149-73b248e200b2\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Women gather around a portrait of Iran\u2019s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, during a ceremony honouring the armed forces.<\/span> Photograph: Vahid Salemi\/AP<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">First Thing: US and Iran inch closer to peace deal as Trump faces criticism from GOP hawks<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>US president says he is not rushing into a deal after proposed plan to end war prompts Republican backlash. Plus, mood in Russia turns against Putin<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/info\/2018\/sep\/17\/guardian-us-morning-briefing-sign-up-to-stay-informed\" data-link-name=\"in standfirst link\"><strong>Don\u2019t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up here<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Good morning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Donald Trump defended himself against criticism from fellow Republicans yesterday as he appeared on the verge of agreeing a deal with Iran to end the war.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">As hawks in his party called the proposed agreement a disaster and questioned why the US president had launched the conflict in the first place, Trump claimed on social media that his deal would be \u201cTHE EXACT OPPOSITE\u201d of the one agreed by Barack Obama, which Trump pulled out of in 2018.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">He added that he was not rushing into a deal, saying \u201cboth sides must take their time to get it right \u2026 There can be no mistakes!\u201d<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>What has Iran said?<\/strong> Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has been speaking at a news briefing about the contours of a potential deal with the US to end the war: \u201cIt is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion. But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent \u2013 no one can make such a claim.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"trump-has-alienated-voters-ahead-of-midterms-warns-ousted-republican-thomas-massie\" class=\"dcr-12ibh7f\"><strong>Trump has \u2018alienated\u2019 voters ahead of midterms, warns ousted Republican Thomas Massie<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"9a0944d5-9d62-4ae7-b399-e3bdcc051427\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div id=\"img-2\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Thomas Massie stands next to a US flag\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/67612a4a87e25aaa4e626d7ae08ad704a5cd3fd4\/576_0_2879_2304\/master\/2879.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"356.12365404654395\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><a href=\"#img-2\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"9a0944d5-9d62-4ae7-b399-e3bdcc051427\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-fd61eq\"><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Thomas Massie speaks with supporters after his concession speech on 19 May in Hebron, Kentucky.<\/span> Photograph: Jon Cherry\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Donald Trump\u2019s Republican party is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/24\/thomas-massie-trump-republican-voters-midterms\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">on course for a damaging rejection at the ballot box in November<\/a>, according to a maverick US congressman ousted by a challenger handpicked by the president.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, became the latest of Trump\u2019s targets to be defeated in the party\u2019s primaries this week. He had repeatedly broken with the president over military action against Iran, government spending and the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">As control of US Congress hangs in the balance, Massie warned on Sunday that Trump had \u201cdisenfranchised\u201d many of the Americans who had voted for him \u2013 and their party \u2013 in November 2024.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Why does he think voters are becoming disenfranchised?<\/strong> Massie pointed to several significant constituencies \u2013 including \u201cMake America healthy again\u201d campaigners, fiscal hawks pushing for sweeping government budget cuts, and voters who don\u2019t want the US engaged in wars \u2013 who he claimed had been \u201calienated\u201d by the administration\u2019s actions. \u201cAnd so, I\u2019m worried that in November, this is going to cost the party a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"overheated-chemical-tank-in-southern-california-may-explode-says-epa-chief\" class=\"dcr-12ibh7f\"><strong>Overheated chemical tank in southern California <\/strong><strong>may explode, says EPA chief<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"d904c82f-2a1d-415e-8959-f92bd4413baa\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div id=\"img-3\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A drone view shows water being sprayed on a circular chemical tank\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/532f5f3317717a784b0a4f856fe7ea2b67004082\/228_0_4688_3750\/master\/4688.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"355.9620307167235\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><a href=\"#img-3\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"d904c82f-2a1d-415e-8959-f92bd4413baa\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-fd61eq\"><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">A drone view shows water being sprayed during a chemical incident in Garden Grove, California, on 23 May.<\/span> Photograph: David Swanson\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Government officials in Orange county, California, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/24\/chemical-tank-california-epa-lee-zeldin\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">have warned that an overheated chemical tank \u201cwill fail\u201d<\/a> and could result in a chemical explosion in the area, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator said yesterday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cWe\u2019re being told that the tank will fail, but there are different scenarios as to what that means,\u201d Lee Zeldin told CNN\u2019s State of the Union. Zeldin, a former Republican congressman with no prior experience in environmental policy, was chosen by Trump as the head of the EPA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThe most catastrophic scenario\u201d at the aerospace facility in the city of Garden Grove, just five miles from Disneyland, Zeldin said, would be \u201can explosion that results in other tanks to explode\u201d.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>What is being done to protect local residents?<\/strong> About 50,000 people in the area have now been evacuated from their homes so far given concerns of a possible leak or explosion.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"in-other-news\" class=\"dcr-12ibh7f\"><strong>In other news \u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"9c6f4c81-711c-4f50-a4ed-07b09333ef66\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div id=\"img-4\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Women hold up placards in the street in Paris\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/fd5ef2bb580b4d04a2a54e6f748b60b501cc716e\/488_0_4164_3333\/master\/4164.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"356.19236311239194\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><a href=\"#img-4\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"9c6f4c81-711c-4f50-a4ed-07b09333ef66\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-fd61eq\"><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Mothers gather outside Paris city hall to protest against child sexual abuse by staff in schools and after-school care centres.<\/span> Photograph: Amaury Cornu\/Hans Lucas\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>France is facing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/may\/25\/massive-child-abuse-scandal-in-france-as-school-staff-investigated-for-violence-and-sexual-assault\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">a child abuse scandal<\/a> as <\/strong><strong>\u201cmonitors<\/strong><strong>\u201d at dozens of state nursery and primary schools are investigated for violence, sexual assault and rape<\/strong>. Paris police are looking into more than 100 allegations of mistreatment by school monitors who supervised lunch breaks, nap times and after-school activities.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Politicians must be held accountable if their lies damage democracy, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/24\/andrew-weissmann-donald-trump-liars-kingdom\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">according to Andrew Weissmann<\/a><\/strong>, former US federal prosecutor and FBI general counsel who was pursued by Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Sweden\u2019s prime minister has promised to put IVF at the heart of his re-election campaign<\/strong> as he tries to win over female voters <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/may\/25\/sweden-pm-ivf-re-election-record-low-birthrate\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">amid the country\u2019s record low<\/a><strong><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/may\/25\/sweden-pm-ivf-re-election-record-low-birthrate\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">birthrate<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"stat-of-the-day-films-more-likely-to-star-an-actor-called-chris-or-a-talking-animal-than-a-woman-over-60-study-finds\" class=\"dcr-12ibh7f\"><strong>Stat of the day: Films more likely to star an actor called Chris or a talking animal than a woman over 60, study finds<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"ae4bfc50-be4b-451a-96a2-ca1a6cfecded\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div id=\"img-5\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Emma Thompson \" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/bf2986ea02529aabc338f4d7429699a902a9e0ca\/782_26_1987_1590\/master\/1987.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"356.08958228485153\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><a href=\"#img-5\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"ae4bfc50-be4b-451a-96a2-ca1a6cfecded\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-fd61eq\"><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Emma Thompson is among the voices supporting an anti-ageism campaign.<\/span> Photograph: Matt Towers\/PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Box office hit films are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/film\/2026\/may\/25\/films-more-likely-to-star-an-actor-called-chris-or-a-talking-animal-than-a-woman-over-60-study-finds\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">four times more likely to star a talking animal than a woman over 60<\/a>, according to a survey by Age Without Limits. The anti-ageism campaign studied the 100 highest performing films released in the UK in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and found that while five starred an older woman, about 20 featured creatures who chat.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"building-power-eva-v-goliath-the-20-year-old-climate-activist-taking-on-trump-and-the-fossil-fuel-industry\" class=\"dcr-12ibh7f\"><strong>Building power: Eva v Goliath \u2013 the 20-year-old climate activist taking on Trump and the fossil fuel industry<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"8681721d-4e2c-44c1-a9d9-020d2e176c60\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div id=\"img-6\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Eva Lighthiser standing in snow\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/066b65e911df067324490928410f30bcbb5a949e\/255_0_2250_1800\/master\/2250.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"356\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><a href=\"#img-6\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"8681721d-4e2c-44c1-a9d9-020d2e176c60\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-fd61eq\"><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Eva Lighthiser.<\/span> Photograph: Will Warasila\/The Guardian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Young Americans are suing the president over executive orders they say worsen the climate crisis and violate their constitutional rights. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/ng-interactive\/2026\/may\/20\/eva-lighthiser-trump-climate\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">One of them is Eva Lighthiser<\/a>. She and 22 other plaintiffs accuse the US government of boosting planet-warming fossil fuels through a series of executive orders.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"dont-miss-this-the-democrats-2024-autopsy-fails-to-confront-the-truth\" class=\"dcr-12ibh7f\"><strong>Don\u2019t miss this: <\/strong><strong>the Democrats\u2019 2024 autopsy \u2018fails to confront the truth\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"b38e5d77-f9aa-48a9-a7ca-f7e1243a305a\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div id=\"img-7\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ken Martin speaks during an interview\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/74bdec4ec912daf8bba51f2e5941fbe35d924d14\/468_0_4681_3745\/master\/4681.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"356.0190130314036\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><a href=\"#img-7\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"b38e5d77-f9aa-48a9-a7ca-f7e1243a305a\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-fd61eq\"><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">\u2018I don\u2019t endorse what\u2019s in this report,\u2019 Ken Martin conceded as the autopsy went public.<\/span> Photograph: Allison Robbert\/AP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Democratic National Committee\u2019s long-delayed autopsy of the party\u2019s 2024 election defeat has been overshadowed by the chaotic circumstances of its release, including the DNC chair publicly distancing himself from it. The document has two glaring omissions: the decision to let Joe Biden pursue re-election until it was too late, and the political impact of the Gaza genocide, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2026\/may\/24\/democrats-2024-autopsy-fails-confront-truth\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">writes Norman Solomon<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"-or-this-there-is-profound-disappointment-in-him-mood-in-russia-turns-against-putin\" class=\"dcr-12ibh7f\"><strong>\u2026 or this: \u2018There is profound disappointment in him\u2019 \u2013 mood in Russia turns against Putin<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"79b8c057-4cec-4f72-b302-2288907d7c59\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div id=\"img-8\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"President Vladimir Putin looks on as soldiers walk by\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/c4165af176f5ec51f182dd3562cae475cb07e242\/963_0_1952_1561\/master\/1952.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"355.86321721311475\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><a href=\"#img-8\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"79b8c057-4cec-4f72-b302-2288907d7c59\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-fd61eq\"><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">\u2018There is little doubt that Putin is entering the most challenging period of his long rule.\u2019<\/span> Photograph: Alexander Nemenov\/EPA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Interviews with several people in the orbit of the Russian leader, as well as sources in the Russian business world and western intelligence officials, paint a picture of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/ng-interactive\/2026\/may\/24\/there-is-profound-disappointment-in-him-mood-in-russia-turns-against-putin\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">an isolated leader surrounded by an elite that is becoming rapidly disillusioned<\/a>, both with the faltering war in Ukraine and the economic downturn at home. There is little doubt that Putin is entering the most challenging period of his long rule.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"climate-check-could-nature-itself-hold-the-solution-to-the-climate-crisis\" class=\"dcr-12ibh7f\"><strong>Climate check: <\/strong><strong>could nature itself hold the solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><strong>?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"9d2c35b8-9ee8-4be2-bd50-19cbcca8c5d7\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div id=\"img-9\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A graphic image of some flowers\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/c8a83f02d67e1a5c77a41daba9e10626f7cfd027\/144_0_1530_1224\/master\/1530.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"356\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><a href=\"#img-9\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"9d2c35b8-9ee8-4be2-bd50-19cbcca8c5d7\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-fd61eq\"><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Technological interventions face huge financial or practical challenges, but there is another way.<\/span> Illustration: Elia Barbieri\/The Guardian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Many people believe the scale of the climate challenge calls for immense technological innovation, geoengineering, or the transformation of our economy. But with these solutions there are often painful trade-offs. There is one set of solutions, however, that present no trade-off at all when they are done right. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/books\/2026\/may\/24\/could-nature-itself-hold-the-solution-to-climate-change\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">The restoration of natural habitats like forests<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"last-thing-k-pop-androids-and-automated-artists-welcome-to-south-koreas-strange-and-ambitious-robot-theme-park\" class=\"dcr-12ibh7f\"><strong>Last Thing: K-pop androids and automated artists \u2013 welcome to South Korea\u2019s strange and ambitious robot theme park<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"58db3e11-1d98-4018-a2ab-b2eab4183085\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div id=\"img-10\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Humanoid robots perform K-pop dancing on a stage\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/c9fbfc90a8dfbfe261ef995c9a4ed7a2f313bcc7\/503_0_4870_3897\/master\/4870.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"356.09137577002053\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><a href=\"#img-10\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"58db3e11-1d98-4018-a2ab-b2eab4183085\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-fd61eq\"><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Galaxy Robot Park in South Korea hopes to attract tourists to concerts and fashion shows, but can robots ever replicate K-pop\u2019s connection with fans?<\/span> Photograph: Jeon Heon-Kyun\/EPA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Four child-sized humanoid robots take to the stage at an arena in eastern Seoul, and as the opening beats of a song by K-pop star G-Dragon begin, they start to dance, until \u2013 mid-performance \u2013 one of them seemingly malfunctions and has to be removed from the stage. Welcome to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/may\/25\/galaxy-robot-park-in-seoul-south-korea-world-first\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">the \u201cworld\u2019s first robot theme park<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"sign-up\" class=\"dcr-12ibh7f\"><strong>Sign up<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"82daf571-5ee7-455c-a8c6-5208bb1c3446\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.EmbedBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div data-testid=\"embed-block\" class=\"dcr-1vu3ut5\">\n<div class=\"dcr-p9o6z7\">Sign up for the US morning briefing<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">First Thing is delivered to thousands of inboxes every weekday. If you\u2019re not already signed up, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/info\/2018\/sep\/17\/guardian-us-morning-briefing-sign-up-to-stay-informed\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">subscribe now<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"get-in-touch\" class=\"dcr-12ibh7f\"><strong>Get in touch<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email <a href=\"mailto:newsletters@theguardian.com\" data-link-name=\"in body link | mailto:newsletters@theguardian.com\">newsletters@theguardian.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US news<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/series\/guardian-us-briefing\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">First Thing newsletter<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=US%20and%20Iran%20inch%20closer%20to%20peace%20deal%20as%20Trump%20faces%20criticism%20from%20GOP%20hawks%20%7C%20First%20Thing&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/25\/first-thing-us-and-iran-inch-closer-to-peace-deal-as-trump-faces-criticism-from-gop-hawks?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F25%2Ffirst-thing-us-and-iran-inch-closer-to-peace-deal-as-trump-faces-criticism-from-gop-hawks&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/25\/first-thing-us-and-iran-inch-closer-to-peace-deal-as-trump-faces-criticism-from-gop-hawks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Women gather around a portrait of Iran\u2019s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, during a ceremony honouring the armed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":2841,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2839","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2839"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2839\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2841"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2839"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}