Israel confirmed that a recent airstrike in Gaza killed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the chief of Hamas’ armed wing and one of the last senior commanders linked to the October 7 attacks. Israeli officials described the operation as a major blow to Hamas’ military leadership. Reports said the strike hit Gaza City’s Rimal area, killing Haddad along with members of his family and several others. Hamas sources acknowledged his death, though the group has not issued a formal statement. The development comes amid continuing violence in Gaza despite fragile ceasefire efforts and stalled negotiations for a long-term truce. (PC: AFP)

US President Donald Trump said Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the second-in-command of Islamic State, “will no longer terrorise the people of Africa” after American and Nigerian forces killed him in Nigeria. Trump said the operation was carried out under his direction and thanked the Nigerian government for its support. US officials identified al-Minuki as a senior ISIS leader active in the Sahel region who helped direct attacks and funding. The United States Department of State designated him a global terrorist in 2023.

US President Donald Trump said Taiwan should not formally declare independence from China. He made the remarks after a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Trump said the United States wants to maintain peace and avoid conflict in the region. He added that US policy on Taiwan has not changed. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has warned that mishandling the issue could lead to serious tensions between the two countries. (PC: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump said American and Nigerian forces killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the second-in-command of Islamic State, in Nigeria. Trump said the joint operation was carried out on his orders. He called al-Minuki one of the world’s most active terrorists. US officials say he helped direct ISIS operations in Africa and supported attacks against Americans. The United States Department of State designated him a global terrorist in 2023. Trump said his death would weaken ISIS’s international network and reduce its ability to plan attacks. (PC: Getty Images Via AFP)

Iran and Oman are reportedly coordinating efforts to manage ship movements through the strategic Strait of Hormuz as tensions in the Gulf continue to disrupt global energy trade. Iranian officials are pushing for a new system requiring vessels to coordinate with Tehran and potentially pay transit-related fees, a move criticized by Western diplomats as unlawful under international maritime law. The Strait of Hormuz handles nearly 20% of global oil shipments, making the situation critical for international markets. Several countries, including the UAE and China, are exploring alternative shipping arrangements while global powers urge de-escalation to avoid further economic and energy instability. (PC: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump concluded his China visit after high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping failed to produce a concrete agreement on ending the Iran conflict. Both leaders reportedly agreed that Iran should not acquire nuclear weapons and stressed keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for global trade. However, no detailed peace framework or joint action plan was announced. The summit also focused on trade, Taiwan, and global security issues, with Trump claiming progress on economic deals involving Boeing aircraft, oil, and soybeans. Analysts described the meeting as symbolically important but diplomatically inconclusive amid rising tensions in the Middle East. (PC: AFP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping took US President Donald Trump on a rare tour of Zhongnanhai, the heavily guarded leadership compound that serves as the seat of China’s Communist Party власти, during Trump’s Beijing visit. The symbolic gesture came amid talks on trade tensions and the West Asia conflict. Trump described the trip as “incredible” and praised Xi as “warm” and “very smart”. During the visit, Trump said Xi pledged not to supply military weapons to Iran while supporting efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. Both leaders projected a friendly tone, though China offered few details about agreements reached during the summit. (PC: BBC)

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded two days of high-level talks in Beijing on Friday, with both leaders describing the meetings as positive and significant. Trump called the discussions “very successful, world-renowned, and unforgettable”, while Xi described the visit as “historic and landmark”, according to Chinese state media.   Trade, oil supplies, Iran and Taiwan were among the key issues discussed during the meetings. Trump earlier claimed that Xi had agreed to withhold military equipment from Iran and support reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He also said China agreed to purchase oil from the United States, although no major policy agreements were officially announced. (PC: BBC)

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday admitted a “breach in the chain of command” in the NEET paper leak controversy and said the government was taking responsibility for the lapse. Addressing a press conference at Teen Murti Marg, the minister announced that the cancelled NEET-UG exam will be conducted again on June 21, 2026.   Pradhan said complaints about “guess papers” matching actual exam questions surfaced soon after the May 3 exam. An investigation by the Higher Education Department and central agencies later confirmed the paper leak. He said the CBI would thoroughly probe the alleged involvement of insiders and organised “education mafia” networks.   The minister also announced that fresh admit cards will be issued by June 14, while students can choose exam cities and use existing application credentials for the re-exam. He further indicated that NEET may shift to a computer-based format from next year. (PC: India today)

Andy Burnham will seek a return to the UK Parliament after Wes Streeting resigned from the Cabinet, intensifying pressure on Keir Starmer following Labour’s heavy election setbacks. Burnham plans to contest the Makerfield seat after Labour MP Josh Simons offered to step aside. Under Labour rules, leadership contenders must be MPs, fuelling speculation about a future challenge to Starmer. Streeting, while not formally launching a bid, called for a broad debate on Labour’s direction and criticised the government’s lack of bold solutions. Meanwhile, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner also declined to rule out leadership ambitions. (PC: PA Media)