US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a sweeping policy change on May 22, 2026, requiring most foreigners in the United States on temporary visas—such as work, tourism, or study—to return to their home countries to apply for green cards, except in extraordinary circumstances. Previously, many applicants could adjust their status from within the US. The change, part of the Trump administration's broader immigration crackdown, has caused confusion among immigration lawyers and aid groups, who warn it could force applicants to leave families and jobs for months and may be impossible for those without safe home countries or functioning US embassies.

Background: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has warned that the war with Iran is 'not over' despite a US-brokered ceasefire, insisting that Iran's enriched uranium must be removed and its facilities dismantled. Today: Former Israeli National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata stated in an interview that Israel will militarily intervene if Iran attempts to resume uranium enrichment. He assessed that the June 2025 war effectively halted Iran's nuclear program for nearly a year, destroying key facilities and materials. Hulata noted that while US President Trump prefers a diplomatic deal with Iran, he is prepared to use limited military strikes. He emphasized that Israel's commitment to preventing a nuclear-armed Iran remains absolute, but any major decision rests with Washington.

An explosion on a barge at a Staten Island shipyard in New York City killed one civilian and injured at least 34 people, including firefighters and first responders. The incident began with a fire that trapped workers; the cause remains unknown. One fire marshal is in critical condition.

The race to succeed Donald Trump in the 2028 Republican primary is shaping up as a contest between Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Vance leads in early polls and has Trump's implicit backing, representing a pure MAGA populist vision. Rubio offers a more mainstream, disciplined version of Trumpism, appealing to donors and foreign-policy hawks. The outcome may depend on Trump's final term performance and his eventual endorsement.

SpaceX launched its third-generation Starship V3, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, from its Starbase facility in Texas on May 23, 2026. The uncrewed test flight carried 20 mock Starlink satellites, which were released in space, and ended with a controlled splashdown and intentional explosion in the Indian Ocean. Despite engine failures on both stages, the mission achieved most major objectives, boosting confidence for NASA's Artemis lunar program and ahead of SpaceX's planned record-breaking IPO. The launch was delayed one day due to a hydraulic pin malfunction in the launch tower.

Background: The Pentagon faced bipartisan criticism over delayed Ukraine aid and the exclusion of new Ukraine funding in the FY2027 budget. A bipartisan group of six US senators—Dick Durbin, Chuck Grassley, Kevin Cramer, Thom Tillis, Michael Bennet, and Catherine Cortez Masto—sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday demanding the release of $600 million in delayed security assistance: $400 million for Ukraine and $200 million for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The senators warned that further delays risk deterring Russia, especially amid reported US troop withdrawals from the region. Hegseth had told lawmakers over three weeks ago that the funding was allocated and a spending plan would be delivered, but the Pentagon missed a May 15 deadline. Separately, a House Democrat-backed proposal to expand sanctions on Russia and provide an additional $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine is gaining support, though unlikely to pass.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who previously announced a reassessment of global military commitments and reiterated opposition to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, stated during a visit to New Delhi that progress has been made in the dispute with Iran and that the US may have an announcement in the coming days.

Background: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited India to reset strained bilateral ties and attend a Quad meeting. The Quad foreign ministers from the US, India, Japan, and Australia met in New Delhi from May 24-26, 2026, to discuss Indo-Pacific security, energy supplies, and emerging technologies. The meeting is overshadowed by US-India tensions over Trump's tariffs and his claims of mediating India-Pakistan border clashes. Analysts stress the Quad's importance in countering China's assertiveness and warn of strategic drift if US commitment wanes. Discussions may revive a 'Quad-plus' arrangement including South Korea, New Zealand, or Vietnam.

Rep. Thomas Massie lost his Kentucky Republican primary to Trump-backed Ed Gallrein in the most expensive House primary in modern history, with over $34 million in spending. AIPAC's super PAC contributed $9 million to the race. Massie was the only member of Congress to vote against House Resolution 888 in November 2023 and opposed emergency military aid to Israel. His defeat is analyzed as a structural enforcement of pro-Israel orthodoxy, continuing a pattern of punishing lawmakers who challenge unconditional support for Israel, including Paul Findley, Charles Percy, Cynthia McKinney, Earl Hilliard, Jamaal Bowman, and Cori Bush. Despite shifting public opinion—polls show sympathy for Palestinians surpassing sympathy for Israelis for the first time, with a generational divide—crossing the Israel lobby remains politically costly. However, the same night saw pro-Palestine candidate Chris Rabb win the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District against two AIPAC-backed opponents, suggesting the lobby's dominance may be waning.

Background: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio planned to visit India for a Quad meeting and to reset bilateral relations strained by tariffs, Pakistan issues, and energy disputes. Today: Rubio arrived in India and met Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi, extending an invitation for Modi to visit the White House. They discussed deepening bilateral ties, energy security amid the Iran war-induced Strait of Hormuz crisis, and regional security. Modi stated they discussed sustained progress in the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and regional and global peace and security. Rubio also briefed Modi on the situation in the Middle East, emphasizing that the US will not let Iran hold the global energy market hostage and affirmed that US energy products can diversify India's energy supply. The visit includes a Quad foreign ministers meeting on May 26. India's fuel prices have risen for the third time in eight days due to disruptions in Gulf shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Background: Iran has insisted that Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire deal with the US, rejecting the US/Israeli view that Israeli operations in Lebanon are a separate conflict. Hezbollah confirmed it received a message from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating that Lebanon's inclusion was explicitly emphasized in Tehran's latest proposal to Pakistani mediators, reaffirming Iran's support for Hezbollah and its push for a Lebanon ceasefire as a firm principle. Araghchi reaffirmed Iran's continued support for Hezbollah and other regional groups, describing them as defending 'rights and freedom' until the very last moment. He added that Tehran has consistently pushed for any broader US-Iran agreement to include a ceasefire in Lebanon, calling this a 'firm principle' and part of Iran's 'legitimate demands'.

The Trump administration has temporarily halted removal flights to the Democratic Republic of Congo due to the Ebola outbreak, but experts and advocates argue the policy is inconsistent and inadequate. At least one deportee, Adriana Zapata, remains stranded in Kinshasa despite a court order for her return, as officials cite the travel ban. Critics note the US continues deportations to other affected countries like Uganda and South Sudan, and that the administration could safely repatriate individuals using established health protocols. The pause is seen as a legal tactic rather than a genuine public health measure.

A Mitchell Institute report calls on the U.S. Space Force to establish a human spaceflight program and station active-duty troops on the moon and space stations to counter China's lunar ambitions. The report argues for reinterpreting the 1967 Outer Space Treaty to allow military presence, citing China's military-aligned space plans. It recommends congressional funding for commercial space station residencies and a dedicated Space Force space station. This proposal marks a significant push to blur the lines between space exploration and militarization, potentially reshaping U.S. space policy and international norms.

Background: The ongoing Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC has prompted US travel restrictions and enhanced screening for World Cup attendees, with experts assessing low transmission risk but potential logistical issues. The WHO has raised the outbreak risk to 'very high' and declared it an international emergency, with nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 deaths. Today: The DRC national football team has refused to alter its World Cup preparations despite a US demand for a 21-day isolation bubble. The team, composed entirely of players based abroad, will proceed with friendlies in Belgium and Spain, though a planned send-off trip to Kinshasa has been cancelled. The White House Task Force for the World Cup warned that failure to maintain the bubble could result in denied entry.

The 2025 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference, which opened with warnings from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the treaty's erosion, concluded on 23 May 2026 without a consensus outcome. Guterres expressed disappointment, stating the conference failed to seize a critical opportunity to enhance global security amid deep tensions and elevated nuclear risks. He welcomed the sincere engagement of states parties but regretted the lack of a substantive outcome. Guterres called for urgent action through dialogue, diplomacy, and negotiation to reduce tensions, lower nuclear risks, and ultimately eliminate the nuclear threat, reaffirming that a world free of nuclear weapons remains the UN's highest disarmament priority.

Refugees fleeing persecution and violence, including from Haiti, Tibet, and India, are being rejected at the Canadian border and handed over to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for detention. Lawyers and advocates argue that Canada's rigid application of the Safe Third Country Agreement with the US, combined with new restrictive asylum legislation, is violating human rights and undermining Canada's reputation as a safe haven. The US is not considered a safe third country due to its long-term detention practices and threats of deportation to dangerous countries.

Uber and DoorDash are reportedly gauging investor interest in a potential acquisition of Delivery Hero, the Berlin-based food delivery giant. The move signals consolidation in the global food delivery market and could reshape competitive dynamics, with implications for investors and the broader tech-enabled services sector. The companies have begun sounding out investors to gauge interest in a deal, indicating ongoing exploratory efforts.

Eswatini has detained 19 migrants deported from the US under a controversial agreement, with lawyers challenging its constitutionality. Detainees report poor conditions, and the deal bypassed parliament. The US paid $5.1 million for hosting up to 160 deportees, sparking protests and legal action.