US President Donald Trump has claimed that the Islamic State’s global second-in-command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, was killed in a joint operation by American and Nigerian forces in Africa. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, Trump said the mission was carried out under his direction and described it as a highly precise and well-planned operation to eliminate one of the world’s most active terrorists.

Trump stated that al-Minuki believed he could hide in Africa but was tracked through intelligence monitoring his every move. The United States had imposed sanctions on al-Minuki in 2023 for his involvement with ISIS. According to Trump, his death would significantly reduce the group’s global operations and prevent further attacks targeting Americans or Africans.

The US president also thanked the Nigerian government for its partnership and praised the bravery of both nations’ armed forces for successfully completing the mission.

U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open and warned that Iran will not be allowed to use the strategic waterway as a weapon. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said his administration would ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons and that global stability is maintained.

Trump noted that China depends on the Strait of Hormuz for about 40 percent of its oil supply. He accused Tehran of previously closing the strait as a pressure tactic and reiterated that such actions would not be tolerated under his leadership.

According to Trump, Iran had used the strait as a weapon in the past, but he emphasized that Tehran would not be able to do so against him. The remarks highlight ongoing U.S. concerns about Iran’s influence over one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.

At least 24 people were killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine, which caused a residential building in Kyiv to collapse. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a strong warning following the assault, vowing that Russia’s actions would not go unanswered. The attacks occurred on Friday, according to the report.

Zelensky said he had discussed long-range strikes with senior military, security, and intelligence officials. He warned that Russia was preparing to target more than 20 key sites across Ukraine, including government residences, administrative buildings, and military command posts. The Ukrainian president emphasized that his country would respond decisively to the escalating aggression.

In retaliation, Ukraine launched extensive long-range drone strikes on various Russian regions, focusing on energy and military infrastructure. The exchange marks another escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two countries, with both sides intensifying their offensive operations.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Taiwan not to formally declare independence from China, following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Speaking to Fox News on Friday, Trump said he had no intention of granting independence to anyone and emphasized that the United States’ policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged. He added that he wants both sides to remain calm and avoid conflict.

Xi Jinping reportedly told Trump that the Taiwan issue is the most important aspect of China-U.S. relations and warned that mishandling it could lead to confrontation. Trump declined to say whether the U.S. would defend Taiwan militarily but noted that Xi is firm in opposing any independence movement. The U.S. maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan while recognizing only one Chinese government.

Tensions have risen as China expanded military exercises around Taiwan, and Washington’s $11 billion arms sale to Taipei drew Beijing’s condemnation. Taiwan’s foreign minister said his government is closely monitoring developments and remains committed to peace and stability in the region.

Israel has claimed that more than 220 Hezbollah fighters were killed in southern Lebanon within a week, alongside strikes on over 440 Hezbollah targets in the region. The report comes amid ongoing hostilities despite a ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Lebanon on April 17.

According to the source, both sides have continued to accuse each other of violating the ceasefire, with hundreds reportedly killed in the fighting. The conflict intensified after Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel on March 2, described as retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The violence has drawn regional concern as the situation remains volatile.

Lebanon and Israel have since extended the ceasefire by an additional 45 days, confirmed by U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, though it remains unclear whether the extension will reduce hostilities on the ground.

Oman has come under geopolitical pressure after Iran claimed it was coordinating with Muscat on the future management of the Strait of Hormuz and the imposition of shipping tolls. The disputed waterway, through which about one-fifth of global seaborne oil passes, has been blocked for ten weeks following a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran in February. Washington has rejected any permanent solution that involves paying tolls to Iran, asserting that Oman shares the same stance.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently described the strait as a shared waterway between Iran and Oman, denying the existence of international waters there. Western diplomats have criticized Tehran’s proposals as illegal, arguing they would allow Iran to discriminate among vessels and violate UN sanctions. Meanwhile, France and the United Kingdom have presented Oman with an alternative plan emphasizing freedom of navigation, supported by most Gulf states.

The deadlock centers on whether coastal states can legally impose tolls. Iran has not ratified the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and insists it is governed by customary law. Tehran’s new Persian Gulf Strait Authority expects to generate revenue through registration fees, while uncertainty remains over China’s compliance with Iranian conditions.

At least seven Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City on Nakba Day, according to reports from Al Jazeera and Anadolu. The attacks targeted a residential building in the Rimal area and a civilian vehicle, leaving three people dead in the vehicle strike and four in the building strike. Among the dead were three women and a child, while about 45 others were reported injured, several critically.

Eyewitnesses told Al Jazeera that at least four missiles were fired, causing a massive fire in the residential building and widespread panic among residents. Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said hundreds of people lived in the targeted building and that the strikes came without prior warning. Many families were affected, with entire households among the casualties.

The attacks occurred on the 78th anniversary of Nakba Day, which marks the 1948 displacement of approximately 750,000 Palestinians following the creation of Israel.

The two-day meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in New Delhi concluded without a joint statement after disagreements emerged over the ongoing Iran war. Host nation India issued only a chair’s statement, noting that member states held differing views on the Middle East conflict. Tehran had urged the group to condemn what it described as a U.S.-Israel war against Iran and accused the United Arab Emirates of direct involvement in military operations against it.

According to India’s statement, BRICS members expressed varied positions on ending the war and emphasized respect for state sovereignty, regional integrity, adherence to international law, and the protection of civilian lives. The statement also reaffirmed that Gaza is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territories and underscored the importance of unifying the West Bank and Gaza under the Palestinian Authority. Support for Palestinian self-determination and the creation of an independent state was reiterated, though one member country reportedly objected to the Gaza reference.

As the 2026 BRICS chair, India’s statement concluded by calling for unity among developing nations in addressing global crises.

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ongoing ceasefire by 45 days following two days of US-mediated talks in Washington that concluded on Friday. The agreement aims to prolong the halt in hostilities between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The ceasefire was originally set to expire on Sunday, but US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott announced the extension to ensure further progress under the April 16 conflict resolution deal.

The discussions, described as highly productive, mark the third round of meetings between the two sides since Israel intensified airstrikes in Lebanon after Hezbollah launched missiles on March 2. The talks are part of a broader diplomatic effort to end both the Israel-Lebanon and US-Iran conflicts. Lebanon’s delegation emphasized its priority to achieve lasting peace, while Israel insisted that any broader peace deal must include Hezbollah’s disarmament.

New security-focused discussions are scheduled to begin at the Pentagon on May 29, followed by political talks on June 2–3. Both delegations expressed optimism that the ceasefire could evolve into a permanent peace agreement.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency has published the final handwritten note of Lieutenant General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. According to the report, Mousavi wrote the note moments before his death on February 28, following the outbreak of war involving U.S. and Israeli forces. The message, described as deeply emotional, reflected on the fleeting nature of worldly possessions.

Tasnim reported that Mousavi’s note expressed a philosophical view of life, stating that even if one gains everything in this world, nothing is truly achieved, and losing everything also means nothing is truly lost. The report highlighted the personal and reflective tone of his final words.

The publication of the note, sourced from Al Jazeera and reported by Tasnim, adds a poignant dimension to Mousavi’s death during the conflict, offering insight into his final thoughts as a senior Iranian military leader.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that Tehran is ready to continue diplomatic communication and discussions with Washington. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Friday, he confirmed that Iran had received new messages from the United States expressing a desire to maintain dialogue. Araghchi also stated that Iran welcomes any mediation or diplomatic assistance from China to help resolve the ongoing crisis between the two countries.

He emphasized Iran’s close and strategic relationship with China, noting that Beijing’s involvement in the diplomatic process would be welcomed by the Islamic Republic. According to Araghchi, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping had offered to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and pledged not to provide military support during wartime. China’s Foreign Ministry said the continuing conflict has no justification and that finding a swift resolution is essential for both regional and global interests.

Araghchi added that Pakistan has been playing a mediating role between the United States and Iran, though the first round of talks did not result in any agreement.

Iran has warned Bahrain of dire consequences if it allows the United States to use its military bases in the event of a new war in the Middle East. The warning came from Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran’s former foreign minister and current lawmaker, who said Bahrain would face a devastating response from Tehran if it again permits US forces to operate from its territory. He also accused Bahrain of aggravating tensions following joint US-Israeli military actions.

Mottaki claimed that after the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Bahrain supported a UN Security Council resolution against Tehran instead of showing sympathy. He further alleged that Bahrain attempted to pass an anti-Iran proposal during last month’s Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in Istanbul, but the effort failed due to diplomatic resistance and support from other countries.

The report noted that the US Fifth Fleet’s main base is located in Bahrain. Following US and Israeli attacks on Iran in February, Tehran retaliated with strikes on several Bahraini sites, including hotels where it claimed US troops had relocated from military bases.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reaffirmed that Iran will continue to fulfill its historical responsibility to ensure the security of the Strait of Hormuz. He made the statement on social media platform X following a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, assuring that friendly nations can rely on Iran for the safety of commercial shipping through the vital waterway.

Araghchi said the meeting between the two ministers included productive discussions on several important bilateral issues, during which he clarified Iran’s stance on the security of the Strait of Hormuz. He emphasized that Iran remains committed to protecting the strait and maintaining the safety of maritime trade.

The Strait of Hormuz is described as one of the most strategically significant sea routes in the Middle East, crucial for global energy and trade flows, with a large number of oil and cargo vessels passing through daily.

China has called for dialogue between the United States and Iran to defuse ongoing tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Beijing emphasized the need to swiftly restore normal operations in the vital waterway. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that resolving the crisis depends on establishing a lasting and comprehensive ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, according to comments published by the state news agency Xinhua.

Wang Yi noted that President Xi Jinping had told US President Donald Trump that force cannot solve problems and that dialogue is the only correct path. He added that while solutions through talks may not come overnight, once the door to dialogue is opened, it should not be closed again. Wang also said China remains actively engaged in promoting peace in the Middle East and will continue its role in ending conflicts and restoring stability in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz is crucial for global energy supplies, and recent tensions there have raised international concern. China’s diplomatic appeal is being viewed as a significant move in this context.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has launched a large-scale campaign against companies violating labor laws. As part of the ongoing operation, more than 7,200 work visas have been canceled, and several government services for the offending firms have been temporarily suspended.

According to ministry data, nearly 250,000 inspections were carried out in the private sector during the first three months of 2026, uncovering about 168,000 labor law violations. Through digital monitoring and smart surveillance, authorities analyzed around 91,000 suspicious activities and confirmed 13,509 serious employment-related irregularities. The implicated companies were removed from the “Nitaqat” program, while affected workers were referred to the Human Resources Development Fund “Hadaf” for new legal employment opportunities. Around 230,000 warning notices were issued, and 3,522 recruitment offices were charged with rule violations.

The ministry also intensified online enforcement, shutting down 238 social media accounts promoting illegal domestic work services and conducting over 54,000 preemptive investigations to prevent human trafficking. It reported resolving about 97 percent of 15,563 citizen complaints received during the campaign.