US President Donald Trump convened a two-hour meeting in the White House Situation Room to deliberate on a potential nuclear agreement with Iran, though no decision was reached.
A senior administration official confirmed to the New York Times that talks are progressing and a deal is considered close.
Key sticking points remain, including the ongoing debate over the unfreezing of Iranian funds.
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Meanwhile, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has told Asia’s premier defence summit in Singapore there is “rightful alarm regarding China’s historic military build-up and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,” while insisting Washington did not seek “needless confrontation in the region.”
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue — which brings together top defence officials and experts from around 45 countries — Hegseth said the United States sought “a genuinely stable equilibrium (in Asia) that works for Americans as well as our allies,” including “a favourable but durable balance of power in which no state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question.”
Hegseth led a large US delegation to the summit, in contrast to China, which, for the second consecutive year, sent a panel of military experts and scholars rather than Defence Minister Dong Jun.
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3:55 PM
May 30, 2026
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Hegseth praises Australia as allies warned to lift defence spending
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has singled out Australia for praise while warning other American allies they need to spend more on their own defence.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, Hegseth dismissed suggestions that US weapons sales to Taiwan had been paused because of the conflict with Iran, insisting there had been “no change” in Washington’s approach.
The Pentagon chief used his keynote address to urge allies to boost military investment, criticising nations he described as “free-riding” on US security guarantees.
But Australia earned a special shoutout.
12:05 PM
May 30, 2026
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Trump medical update following health concerns
The White House has moved to address ongoing speculation about Donald Trump’s health following his latest medical examination.
In a report released days after the check-up, White House physician Captain Sean P. Barbabella said Mr Trump demonstrated “strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and overall physical function” and remained fully capable of carrying out the duties of President.
The upbeat assessment came after speculation mounted over a delay in releasing the results, prompting concerns the White House could be withholding negative findings. Mr Trump quickly dismissed those fears, posting on Truth Social that everything had checked out “PERFECTLY”.
The report did, however, reveal the President has gained about 17 pounds since his previous physical in 2025. Doctors advised dietary changes, increased exercise, continued weight loss and the use of a low-dose aspirin as part of preventative care.
2:04 PM
May 30, 2026
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White House launches controversial ‘alien’ migrant website
Well, turns out the Trump administration’s playful reinforcing of recent UFO and alien theories were perhaps not so playful after all.
The administration has come under fire after launching a new website that uses UFO-themed imagery and language to describe immigrants, while encouraging Americans to report suspected undocumented migrants to authorities.
Hosted on the official White House website, the page features green text, flying saucers and repeated references to immigrants as “aliens”, portraying illegal migration as an “invasion” of the United States.
The site claims undocumented migrants have been “walking among us”, attending schools, shopping in local stores and living “seemingly normal human existences” despite allegedly not belonging in the country.
9:25 AM
May 30, 2026
US ready to reignite Iran war, Hegseth warns
The United States has ample weapons reserves and is fully prepared to re-enter conflict with Iran if required, said Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.
Speaking at Asia’s premier defence summit in Singapore, Hegseth touted US resources and abilities, as tensions with Tehran remain unresolved following multiple failed negotiations.
“Our ability to recommence if necessary is (that) we are more than capable, our stockpiles are more than suited for that, both there and around the globe because of how we balance exquisite and more plentiful munitions,” he said.
8:49 AM
May 30, 2026
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US raises ‘alarm’ over China
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has voiced concerns over China’s military expansion in the Pacific during a meeting with top defence officials.
During a speech at Asia’s premier defence summit in Singapore, the Secretary of War revealed there was “rightful alarm” across the Pacific region over China’s military build-up, before adding that Washington did not seek “needless confrontation in the region”.
“When we look across the region today, there is rightful alarm regarding China’s historic military build-up and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,” he told the summit.
Hegseth was speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, which brings together top defence officials and experts from around 45 countries.
6:36 AM
May 30, 2026
Rivals hold meeting at secretive US base
Senior US and Cuban military officers met on Friday at Guantanamo Bay amid rapidly deteriorating relations between the two countries, fuelled by Donald Trump’s threatened takeover.
US General Francis Donovan met with Cuban General Roberto Legra Sotolongo for what US South Command described as a “brief exchange on operational security matters,” including a perimeter review of the base and discussions on troop safety and readiness.
The talks come amid reports that Havana has considered potential drone strikes on the US facility if tensions escalate further.
Guantanamo Bay, located about 700 kilometres southeast of Miami, remains a highly sensitive site with a long history tied to post-9/11 detainee abuse and controversial US detention operations.
5:15 AM
May 30, 2026
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Trump’s Iran deal collapses in talks
A meeting between US President Donald Trump and national security officials in the White House Situation Room has ended without a deal, despite intensifying efforts to finalise an agreement with Iran.
Prior to the meeting, Trump said he was prepared to make a “final determination” on a tentative deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin talks on Iran’s nuclear program.
According to a senior administration figure familiar with the discussions, no formal decision was reached on whether to proceed with the deal during the two-hour talk, the New York Times reports
The administration believes negotiations are entering their final phase, with a broad outline of an agreement largely in place. However, several critical sticking points remain largely unresolved, including the unfreezing of funds for the Iranians, according to officials.
3:41 AM
May 30, 2026
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‘Misleading’: Stars desert US concerts that are too aligned to Trump
Will it be Kid Rock to the rescue, yet again?
A series of concerts in Washington DC to mark the US’ 250th anniversary has lost half of its artists just days after they were announced.
The issue appears to be a conclusion that the Freedom 250 Great American State Fair events will be too overly political and connected to Donald Trump with artists not told about that in advance.
One artist who will be a no-show said she was “misled”.
3:22 AM
May 30, 2026
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Trump-Kennedy centre must lose ‘Trump’ name: Judge
The Kennedy Centre, in Washington DC, will have to be renamed back to The Kennedy Centre, it’s name before it became the “Donald J Trump and the John F Kennedy Centre”. At least for the moment.
The renaming of the US premiere arts venue has been one of a string of buildings, organisations and various bits and bobs which have either taken Donald Trump’s name or been emblazoned with his image.
On Friday, US time, a judge ruled Mr Trump’s name would have to be removed.
“The Kennedy Centre’s organic statute makes crystal clear that the Centre is to be named for President Kennedy, and it cannot bear any other formal name or public memorial based on the Board’s unilateral say-so.
12:51 AM
May 30, 2026
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Trump making ‘final determination’ on Iran peace plan
Donald Trump said he was meeting “in the Situation Room” on Friday, US time, to make a “final determination” on a proposal to extend the ceasefire with Iran.
There have been reports that the truce could be extended by 60 days, the US blockade ended and that Iran would remove any hindrance to the Strait of Hormuz. But the thorny issue of Iran’s nuclear material and ambitions would be put aside and discussed during those 60 days.
In a lengthy social media post on Friday, Mr Trump appeared to confirm some of those details.
He said “Iran must agree that they will never have a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb,” but it wasn’t clear if that was a condition of the ceasefire extension or an eventual peace plan.
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