Cyber intrusions have been detected in automatic tank gauge (ATG) systems at gas stations across several US states, with officials suspecting Iran-backed hackers. Sources said the attackers accessed many internet-exposed, password-free ATG systems and in some cases altered displayed fuel data without affecting actual fuel levels. Investigators noted that Iran had previously targeted similar energy infrastructure, though definitive attribution remains uncertain due to limited forensic evidence.

Analysts linked the incident to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, suggesting Tehran may be using cyber operations as an alternative to direct military action. The attack could also pose political challenges for the Trump administration, as rising fuel prices and public concern over the war’s economic impact intensify. Cybersecurity researchers have long warned that internet-connected ATG systems are vulnerable to exploitation.

Experts further cautioned that Iran’s cyber activity has expanded in scope and sophistication, including disruptive operations against US energy and water systems. They warned that future US elections could face Iranian cyber and disinformation campaigns, potentially amplified by artificial intelligence tools.

Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Manhattan, New York, on Friday to mark the 78th anniversary of the Nakba. The demonstration was organized by a group called Within Our Lifetime. The event coincided with a new proposal introduced by U.S. Congress member Rashida Tlaib calling for recognition of Palestinian refugees’ rights.

Participants at the rally described the Nakba as a continuing tragedy comparable to the Holocaust and called for global recognition of its history. They demanded an end to what they termed genocide and occupation in Palestine, urging the return of displaced Palestinians and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Demonstrators expressed solidarity with Palestinians and vowed to continue their advocacy until freedom is achieved within their lifetime.

The Nakba Day commemorates events beginning on May 15, 1948, following Israel’s declaration of independence the previous day, when many Arabs were expelled or fled from the area. The day is marked annually by protests and heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.

This week, the annual Jackson Poetry Prize was awarded to Chicago-born poet Marianne Boruch. The honor recognizes an outstanding American poet each year and includes a $100,000 cash award. The 2026 judging panel consisted of Major Jackson, Cole Swensen, and Afaa Michael Weaver.

According to the judges’ statement, Boruch’s poetry reveals the breadth and depth of human thought through its ornamental rhythm and captivating expression. In an era shaped by artificial intelligence, her work seeks to stir collective human understanding, exploring the vastness of desire and curiosity. Her poetic tone moves fluidly between refined diction and spontaneous wit, employing every stylistic nuance in between.

The judges noted that Boruch’s unconventional sentence structures are not merely surprising but awakening, inviting readers to look upward and think more deeply. The prize highlights her distinctive contribution to contemporary American poetry.

US officials accompanying former President Donald Trump discarded all gifts received from Chinese officials before departing Beijing on May 16, 2026, citing security concerns. According to reports from India Today and The Economic Times, the White House team threw away the items, including burner phones, identification cards, badges, press invitations, and souvenirs, in airport dustbins before boarding Air Force One.

White House correspondent Emily Goodin of the New York Post stated that no Chinese-origin items were allowed on the aircraft due to strict security enforcement by the White House security division and the Secret Service. She confirmed on social media that all items from Chinese officials were collected and disposed of before takeoff.

US media outlets reported that the move aimed to prevent potential surveillance or tracking. The incident reflects ongoing tensions between the United States and China over espionage and cybersecurity issues, which have remained a source of friction between the two nations.

Democratic lawmakers in the United States have accused President Donald Trump of corruption related to large stock transactions, particularly involving Nvidia. Senator Elizabeth Warren alleged on social media that Trump’s actions posed a national security risk, citing his approval for Nvidia to sell advanced AI chips to China and his subsequent purchase of millions of dollars’ worth of the company’s shares. Warren claimed Trump traveled to China with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to persuade President Xi Jinping to buy the chips.

Eric Trump, who manages the Trump family’s business, denied the allegations, stating that all family assets are held in blind trusts managed by major financial institutions and that no family member engages in personal stock trading. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker also criticized Trump, calling him the most corrupt president in U.S. history.

Documents released Thursday showed Trump traded over $200 million in shares from major corporations including Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Boeing. Forbes estimated Trump’s personal wealth at $6.5 billion as of March 2026, up $1.4 billion from the previous year.

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.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to withdraw his $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In exchange, a $1.7 billion compensation fund will reportedly be created to reimburse Trump’s allies who claim they were unfairly targeted during the Biden administration. The fund will be managed by a commission with full authority to distribute taxpayer money to settle claims from individuals alleging misuse of the legal system.

According to the report, the compensation will cover those who say they suffered due to alleged political targeting, including around 1,600 people charged in the January 6 Capitol attack and possibly entities linked to Trump himself. The settlement agreement is expected to be finalized within the next few days.

ABC News cited sources indicating that the creation of this compensation fund is considered a key condition for Trump’s withdrawal of multiple legal actions against the federal government.

The United States is preparing to bring criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raul Castro in connection with the downing of two aircraft three decades ago. According to the report, the US Department of Justice is expected to file the charges within days, pending approval from a federal grand jury. The development coincides with a visit to Cuba by the CIA director, who is meeting with Havana officials.

Raul Castro, aged 94, stepped down as head of the Cuban Communist Party in 2021, marking the end of his family’s more than fifty years in power. He had led the country for 15 years following his brother Fidel Castro’s resignation. The case represents a rare move by Washington to pursue legal action against a former head of state from Cuba.

Unnamed officials from the US Justice Department indicated that the indictment could be submitted by Wednesday, signaling a potentially significant escalation in US-Cuba legal and diplomatic tensions.

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.

Palestinian-American US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib issued a statement in Congress marking the anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba. In her remarks, she called for justice and the assurance of Palestinians’ right to return to their homeland. The Nakba refers to the 1948 displacement and ethnic cleansing of approximately 750,000 Palestinians during the creation of the state of Israel.

Tlaib stated that the Nakba did not end in 1948 and continues today, citing ongoing violence and forced displacement of Palestinians by the Israeli government in Gaza. She paid tribute to all those killed since the beginning of the Nakba and emphasized that true peace must be founded on justice and the right of Palestinians to return to their land.

Her statement coincided with the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, which was also marked by demonstrations in New York, according to the source.

Lawyers representing former Columbia University student Mahmud Khalil have appealed to the US Board of Immigration Appeals to reopen and dismiss his deportation case. Khalil, who was targeted for deportation by the US government due to his pro-Palestinian activism, faces removal following a final deportation order issued one month earlier. The latest legal motion references new information, some of which has been reported in the media.

According to Khalil’s lawyers, the new evidence suggests that the Trump administration may have secretly influenced or arranged the outcome of his immigration case to make him an example. Khalil was first detained in March 2025 by immigration enforcement agents. He was among several student activists targeted after participating in pro-Palestinian and anti-Gaza war demonstrations that spread across US campuses the previous year.

The appeal seeks to suspend the deportation process while the new claims are reviewed by the immigration appeals court.

The United States Secretary of Energy has stated that the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz will gradually decline as Middle Eastern nations, particularly Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and others, significantly expand their pipeline capacities. In an interview with CNBC, the secretary said that future energy transport from the Gulf region will have alternative routes, reducing dependence on the narrow maritime passage that currently handles a large share of global oil and gas shipments.

The US official emphasized that while the Strait’s importance may lessen, the energy production and supply roles of Gulf countries will remain vital. He praised the contributions of Middle Eastern nations, describing them as key allies of the United States and major partners in the global energy supply system.

The secretary also expressed optimism that peace, prosperity, and economic growth would return to the region, underscoring the continuing strategic partnership between the United States and Gulf energy producers.

Former US Defense Department official and political analyst Drew Thompson told Al Jazeera that providing weapons to Taiwan is essential for maintaining stability and deterring Chinese aggression. He argued that such support would leave Beijing with no option but to pursue peaceful means to resolve differences with Taipei. Thompson made these remarks amid discussions surrounding a record $11.1 billion US arms package for Taiwan, which he said is unlikely to be withdrawn despite Donald Trump’s warm ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping during Trump’s visit to Beijing.

Thompson explained that Trump views arms sales through an economic lens, considering them a way to strengthen the US defense industry and a key source of exports and revenue. He added that while China may be displeased, arms sales have been a consistent feature of US-China relations since China’s reform and opening in 1979.

Thompson also noted that both the United States and China share a quiet mutual interest in avoiding conflict over Taiwan, as Beijing prefers a peaceful resolution and does not want to risk a failed military action.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that he will no longer show patience toward Iran and urged the country to reach a deal quickly. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said Iran should come to an agreement with Washington, warning that failure to do so would result in its destruction. He emphasized that the time for waiting was over and that Iran must act soon.

When asked about the need to extract enriched uranium from Iranian territory, Trump said the move was important both for security and for maintaining the United States’ image. He also claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping wanted a diplomatic settlement with Iran and supported reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Trump’s remarks reflect renewed pressure on Tehran to engage in negotiations under U.S. terms.

The statements, reported by Middle East Eye, come amid ongoing regional tensions and international concern over Iran’s nuclear activities and maritime security in the Gulf.