AJA Newsbites – May 27, 2026 - THE AsiaN

• The supplied search results do not contain the required kind of coverage: they are mostly YouTube videos about Middle East conflict, plus one CBS News video item about Donald Trump’s medical exam, not a set of U.S. entertainment news articles. • The results also fail the source requirement because the visible URLs are video links or non-entertainment items, and the prompt requires written article pages from U.S.-based sources.

• Actor Emma Thompson has condemned the "ludicrous" lack of representation for older women in cinema following a study by the Age Without Limits campaign. • The research revealed a stark gender and age imbalance in hit films, finding that more movies star men named Chris than women over the age of 60.

• Rylan Clark, 37, discussed the emotional difficulty of seeing celebrity friends be "cancelled" during an appearance on ITV’s *The Assembly* on Sunday, May 24. • The conversation occurred shortly after the BBC fired Clark's former Eurovision coverage co-host, Scott Mills.

• The BBC's upcoming Doctor Who Christmas special is reportedly "hanging in the balance" and may not air as scheduled. • The production crisis follows the sudden exit of lead actor Ncuti Gatwa, leaving the network without a primary star for the festive episode.

• BTS won the prestigious Artist of the Year award at the American Music Awards, marking a significant achievement for the global K-pop group. • Other notable winners during the ceremony included Sabrina Carpenter, Katseye, and Golden, who is featured in the film K-Pop Demon Hunters.

• The article highlights five under-the-radar festivals across the UK and Europe that focus on folklore, fire, and centuries-old traditions rather than mainstream tourism. • One featured event is Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, a winter celebration that transforms the town into a Viking spectacle.

• Stewart McLean, an actor known for his role in the series 'Virgin River', was found dead on Friday. • A friend of the actor, who had worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade, stated that McLean was not involved in anything "nefarious" prior to his passing.

• Al Jazeera Media Network won 12 awards at the 2026 New York Festivals TV Film Awards, announced during a virtual ceremony. • Al Jazeera Arabic received two Gold and one Bronze award for its documentary coverage of developments in Syria.

• The qualifiers for cricket at the 2026 Asian Games are scheduled to take place from May 26 to June 8. • The men's competition features eight teams divided into two groups: Group A includes China, Malaysia, Nepal, and Qatar, while Group B consists of Bahrain, Hong Kong China, Oman, and Singapore.

• Olivia Dean, Zara Larsson, and Fatboy Slim headlined the Radio 1 Big Weekend music festival. • The event showcased a diverse lineup of artists and highlighted the unique character and culture of the host location.

• Former Liverpool teachers Jo and Kush have become local inspirations following their success on the reality series "Race Across the World." • Their former school, which once educated John Lennon, plans to invite the pair to present at this year's awards evening.