The United States' civilian foreign intelligence service
President Trump has begun flying a $400m Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar but used an older Air Force One during a July NATO trip after officials raised security concerns. The White House has defended the new jet as "state-of-the-art," while the FBI and a White House-led probe have sought to identify leaks about the plane's defensive capabilities; The New York Times reporters have been subpoenaed.
President Trump has delivered a primetime address releasing declassified intelligence he says shows China acquired large volumes of U.S. voter data and that officials hid reports about foreign efforts to target U.S. elections. Journalists, former intelligence officials and state authorities have said the documents do not prove foreign actors altered 2020 vote counts and many of the administration's claims have been disputed.
Congress has approved a short-term extension of a FISA surveillance authority, sending the temporary patch to President Donald Trump after negotiations stalled over warrant protections and unrelated provisions. Lawmakers have been holding marathon overnight sessions and face a fraught path to a longer-term renewal that Republicans and the Senate are disputing.
Julian Casablancas of The Strokes has publicly criticized US-Zionist groups and shown political videos at Coachella, criticizing US foreign policy and Israel's actions in Gaza. The comments and visuals have divided public opinion, with some praising his activism and others condemning it as tone deaf amid ongoing conflicts.
Mexico's president has stated that US agents were not present during a weekend operation against clandestine drug labs in northern Chihuahua, after the CIA's involvement was confirmed to AP. The incident killed two Mexican investigators and raised questions about US participation and sovereignty. The government says it will pursue clarity and has contacted the US ambassador for information.
Mexico has reiterated that it has not been informed of CIA participation in an operation that led to fatalities. President Sheinbaum is steering the response toward constitutional and legal norms, while the U.S. faces questions over accreditation and cooperation. Investigations are underway as lawmakers prepare for a Senate debate.
The intelligence community has this week been analyzing whether a rapid de-escalation could ease political pressure in the United States while leaving Iran capable of rebuilding its nuclear and missile programs. No decision has been made, and options range from a swift pullback to maintaining a heavy presence; observers warn the move could shape regional dynamics and energy markets.
Iran has set five trust-building conditions before entering any new round of talks with the United States, insisting on end to all fronts of conflict, sanctions relief, released assets, compensation for losses, and recognition of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Washington says Tehran’s response to a 14-point plan is still under review, with both sides pressing for guarantees amid a fragile ceasefire and regional spillovers.
The Trump administration has escalated a counterterrorism strategy targeting drug cartels in Latin America, with reports of deadly strikes on vessels in Caribbean and eastern Pacific waters. Multiple outlets note a lack of public evidence that the vessels carried drugs, while cross-border tensions intensify as regional leaders are urged to act.
Iran has executed two men on espionage-related charges, including allegations of forced confessions. Rights groups say one had warned cyber websites about cyberattacks rather than spying. The executions come as Iran’s crackdown on protests and heightened tensions with the US-Israel war abroad continue.
The investigation into former CIA director John Brennan has gained momentum, with FBI agents interviewing current and former CIA officers about Brennan’s role in producing a 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment that referenced the Steele dossier. Prosecutors are examining whether Brennan gave false testimony to Congress and how the dossier influenced the report.
Mexico has rejected claims that the CIA participated in lethal operations against cartels on Mexican soil. CNN and The New York Times reports describe covert U.S. involvement, while Mexican officials insist on sovereignty and reject the allegations. The dispute has intensified as the U.S. debate over cartels and security policy continues.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has met Cuban officials in Havana to discuss intelligence, economic stability and security. U.S. prosecutors have been expected to unseal an indictment against 94-year-old Raúl Castro in Miami on May 20 over the 1996 shootdown of exile planes, according to U.S. and Cuban sources.
Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum has privately warned Morena officials that any members credibly tied to corruption or cartel links must resign and face consequences, Reuters reports. The warning follows a U.S. indictment that has charged Sinaloa governor Rubén Rocha and other officials and has prompted arrests and sanctions tied to the Sinaloa cartel.
Federal authorities have seized more than 300 gold bars, about $2 million in cash and dozens of luxury watches from a former CIA official amid an embezzlement probe. Investigators say the suspect claimed work-related expenses and alleged Navy Reserve service, with charges including theft of public funds.
The CIA-investigated case centers on David Rush, a former CIA officer, who has been arrested after investigators found 303 gold bars, $2 million in cash, and dozens of luxury watches in his Virginia home. He has allegedly used a fake special access program and falsified credentials to obtain funds for work-related expenses between November 2025 and March 2026. The FBI and CIA are pursuing the case, with detention ordered as flight risk is cited.
The New York Times, The Guardian, CNBC, Al Jazeera and other outlets report that Donald Trump has nominated Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general, moving from acting to permanent head of the Justice Department. The nomination faces a Senate confirmation battle amid scrutiny of Blanche’s ties to the Epstein files, the $1.8 billion anti-weaponisation fund and past actions at the DOJ.
The Guardian, Independent, and NY Post report that Donald Trump has nominated Todd Blanche to serve permanently as attorney general. Blanche, who has been acting AG since April, would require Senate confirmation. Reports describe his role in pursuing cases against Trump’s rivals and in high-profile DOJ actions, including a controversial fund related to Trump allies that was later axed.
Taiwan has launched a secure website for Chinese nationals to provide intelligence information, citing growing discontent amid China’s economic and political pressures. The move mirrors practices by the U.S., U.K., and Israel and follows a broader pattern of cross-strait distrust and security measures.
The memorandum of understanding signed by Trump and Iranian leaders has opened a 60-day window to negotiate a full deal on Iran’s nuclear program, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and lift sanctions, while leaving key issues unresolved. Analysts warn breakthroughs are unlikely within the deadline; the path forward remains uncertain.
The latest reporting indicates Iran may have meshed networking capabilities, coordinating multiple drones to overwhelm defenses after an April F-15E was downed. The pilot’s testimony, later debriefed by intelligence officials, describes a jellyfish-like drone formation. Rescue missions followed, with US forces recovering the airman and the weapons systems officer.
Brennan has filed a federal lawsuit asserting that records must be preserved as part of a potential vindictive-prosecution defense if he faces future indictment. The suit names Donald Trump and top law-enforcement officials as defendants and argues that recent DOJ record-keeping changes threaten due-process rights.
Karp has said U.S. firms are turning to cheaper Chinese AI models amid regulatory pressure on top U.S. models, driving a shift in enterprise AI strategy and impacting domestic AI labs.
The interim Director of National Intelligence has begun a new round of firings within the U.S. intelligence community, as President Trump presses for rapid staff changes. The White House and DNI have not commented. The move follows reports that the administration aims to remove officials deemed loyal to opponents and to expand access to sensitive data.
The island has suffered multiple nationwide power outages as fuel shortages deepen under the U.S. oil blockade. Officials say restoration is underway but the grid remains fragile, with daily life and essential services affected across Havana and other provinces.
Mexico has escalated its response to the killings of Mexican nationals in U.S. ICE custody. Foreign Minister Velasco Álvarez has announced plans to file criminal complaints with U.S. prosecutors and pursue civil lawsuits against detention-center operators, arguing for accountability and criminal investigations into the deaths. The move follows the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston and a rising death toll in ICE custody in 2026. President Sheinbaum has said Mexico will move beyond diplomatic notes to seek accountability.
Mexico has filed criminal complaints in the United States over Mexican nationals killed in ICE custody or during enforcement operations, as tensions rise with Washington following the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston. The move follows multiple fatalities since Trump returned to office and comes as Mexico presses for investigations and UN scrutiny.
Trump has framed election security as a defining issue, citing declassified claims that China stole 220 million US voter files. The White House is pressing for stricter voter-ID rules and citizenship verification, while opponents question the data’s accuracy and timing ahead of the midterms.
Desalination plants powering Gulf cities are vulnerable to strikes and climate threats, with 56 plants supplying most Gulf drinking water. Attacks have damaged facilities and raised concerns about water security across Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia as tensions in the region continue.
Ismael Zambada Garcia has received a life sentence in Brooklyn federal court for his role as a leader in the Sinaloa Cartel and for racketeering conspiracy and continuing criminal enterprise. The judge ordered life imprisonment without parole; prosecutors note the scale of his crimes and the cartel’s global reach.