A scheduled court hearing in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption case was again canceled, according to a report by Israel’s Channel 12. The hearing was postponed following an emergency defense request citing confidential security and political reasons. Netanyahu’s lawyer informed the court that he could not attend the session, and details of the reasons were submitted in a sealed envelope to the court and prosecution.

The corruption case, launched in 2020, involves allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Netanyahu first testified in December 2024, but his cross-examination has been repeatedly delayed. Throughout 2025 and into the current period, his legal team has successfully sought postponements, citing wartime conditions, diplomatic obligations, and security concerns.

Critics have accused Netanyahu of exploiting regional geopolitical tensions to delay the judicial process, though the court has not commented on these claims.

Chattogram City Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain has accused a controversial leader of the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP) of attempting to create unrest over the removal of July movement graffiti from flyover pillars. Speaking at a press conference at the city corporation office on Monday, he claimed the graffiti had already been covered by posters and that he himself had funded much of the artwork after the fall of the Awami League government.

Tensions erupted on Sunday night when city authorities repainted the pillars of the Shaheed Wasim Akhtar Flyover from Lalkhan Bazar to Dewanhat for advertising purposes. NCP activists protested, alleging that the city corporation erased the July movement graffiti to rent the space commercially. They began painting new graffiti and blocked roads in front of the city corporation building.

The situation escalated as BNP, Jubo Dal, and Chhatra Dal activists joined the scene, leading to heated exchanges with NCP members. Police were deployed to prevent further clashes. Around midnight, Mayor Shahadat arrived and dispersed the BNP activists, later addressing supporters at Lalkhan Bazar.

Bangladeshi expatriates in South Korea organized a civic reception for National Citizens Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan during his visit to the country. The event took place on Sunday at noon at the Khimpu Foreign Support Center in Khimpu city, arranged by the NCP Diaspora Alliance, South Korea. NCP leaders, activists, and expatriates from various professions attended the ceremony.

In his speech, Asif Mahmud expressed gratitude to the diaspora for their hospitality and recalled their support during the July uprising, when the country was under blockade. He urged expatriates to remain united in realizing the goals of the July Charter and referendum, and to inform the international community about the uprising. He also assured that the NCP would continue working to ensure expatriate voting rights in future elections.

NCP Joint Member Secretary Saleh Uddin Sifat highlighted the role of expatriates in the July uprising and expressed hope for their involvement in future national policymaking. Expatriates raised issues such as simplifying migration processes, curbing exploitation by brokers, and improving repatriation and airport services.

Singapore’s non-resident High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Derek Loh, paid a courtesy call on Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Parliament and Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The meeting took place on Monday morning at the opposition leader’s office in Bashundhara, Dhaka. Singapore’s Chargé d’Affaires Michael Lee South and South Asia Country Director Tai Dae Ern were also present.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on Bangladesh’s current political and economic situation, industrial and trade development, post-election democratic progress, the referendum process, and state reforms through the implementation of the July Charter. According to the statement, Derek Loh praised Jamaat-e-Islami’s positive role in Bangladesh’s economic and democratic advancement and expressed hope for stronger bilateral ties between Bangladesh and Singapore.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties agreed to enhance cooperation for Bangladesh’s democratic progress and economic prosperity. The High Commissioner also invited Dr. Shafiqur Rahman to visit Singapore.

Senior Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has called on former US President Donald Trump to launch attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure if Tehran continues to reject Washington’s conditions in nuclear negotiations. Graham made the remarks in an interview with NBC, asserting that Iran’s energy sector is its weak point and should be targeted if hostilities resume.

Despite international law prohibiting attacks on civilian infrastructure, Graham insisted that stronger action could pressure Iran into reaching a deal. He argued that repeating past strategies would yield the same results and urged for more forceful measures to compel Tehran to negotiate.

Graham further claimed that Iran is testing US patience and playing a waiting game, describing the situation as one where the country is “playing games” and acting irrationally, echoing Trump’s own rhetoric. The comments were reported by Al Jazeera and published by Amar Desh on May 18, 2026.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a seven-day program from May 25 to June 1 to mark the 45th death anniversary of its founder and former president Ziaur Rahman. The announcement was made by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi after a joint meeting at the party’s central office in Naya Paltan, Dhaka. On May 30, party flags will be flown at half-mast nationwide, and leaders and activists will visit Zia’s mausoleum, with party chairman and prime minister Tarique Rahman expected to attend.

As part of the program, a discussion meeting will be held on May 31 at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. BNP’s Dhaka North and South units will distribute clothes and rice among the needy, with similar activities planned across the country. Various affiliated organizations, including Olama Dal, JASAS, Muktijoddha Dal, and Chhatra Dal, will hold prayer gatherings, while Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, Krishak Dal, and Sramik Dal will organize discussions.

Rizvi instructed party members to avoid causing public inconvenience and to hold events in open spaces rather than blocking roads.

New Zealand High Commissioner to Bangladesh David Pine paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir on Monday morning at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations and exploring potential areas of cooperation between Bangladesh and New Zealand.

During the discussion, both sides exchanged views on expanding collaboration in promising sectors such as pharmaceuticals, tourism, higher education, and food processing. The High Commissioner expressed New Zealand’s interest in working with Bangladesh in these fields and praised Bangladesh’s active role in addressing global climate change challenges. He also encouraged the country to take on a more leadership-oriented role in international climate initiatives.

Humayun Kabir reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to sustainable development, environmental protection, and building a green economy despite being highly vulnerable to climate change. He emphasized that Bangladesh is ready to play an effective leadership role globally in combating climate impacts.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh has announced its mayoral candidates for the upcoming Dhaka North and South City Corporation elections. Atiqur Rahman Mujahid, central president of Islami Jubo Andolan, has been nominated for Dhaka North, while Sheikh Fazlul Karim Maruf, the party’s central publicity secretary, will contest in Dhaka South. The announcement was made on Monday at the party’s central office in Purana Paltan, Dhaka, by the party’s Amir and Charmonai Pir, Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim.

During the event, the Charmonai Pir called for holding local elections soon and stated that the national election held on February 12 had been questioned and could not be termed transparent. He emphasized the need for transparency in the upcoming local polls and confirmed that Islami Andolan Bangladesh would participate independently. The party’s secretary general, Principal Yunus Ahmad, and other senior leaders were present at the announcement.

The declaration signals the party’s preparation to contest the city polls separately, underscoring its focus on electoral transparency and independent participation.

Nawab Sharif Sajib, a student of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, has appealed to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for employment assistance. Sajib was shot during the July uprising and still carries splinters in his body. The injuries have left him with limited physical ability, forcing him to leave his previous job and halting his studies. He now lives in Natore with his pregnant wife and young child, struggling to meet family expenses despite receiving some government allowances.

Before the movement, Sajib worked as a front desk officer at a hospital in Sylhet but had to resign due to his physical condition. He has been listed as a “July fighter” in the government gazette and received some financial support, but rising living costs have made survival difficult. Regular therapy is required for his recovery, which he cannot afford.

Sajib has applied for a job at his university and written to the Prime Minister seeking direct intervention. His only wish now is for stable employment that would allow him to manage his medical treatment and family responsibilities.

National Citizen Party (NCP) South Region chief organizer and Cumilla-4 MP Hasnat Abdullah called for national unity and reform during a rally in Chauddagram Bazaar on Monday. He said that parties whose leaders flee the country have no right to do politics in Bangladesh and vowed that the Awami League would not be allowed to return to power. Abdullah emphasized the need to eliminate unemployment, modernize education, and strengthen the SME sector, urging that these priorities be included in the upcoming national budget.

He criticized the influence of politicians over the police, saying that some officers harass opposition activists for personal gain. Abdullah cited past and current governments’ actions against social media users as examples of political misuse of law enforcement. He demanded a politically neutral police force and a zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking, particularly in border areas like Chauddagram.

The event was chaired by Abu Sufian Raihan of Jatiya Jubo Shakti and attended by several NCP and allied leaders, who echoed calls for unity and reform.

In West Bengal, newly appointed Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education Minister Khudiram Tudu warned that any illegally operating madrasas in the state could be demolished with bulldozers if they defy government orders. His remarks came amid a broader campaign of evictions and demolitions following the change of government, which critics allege is targeting Muslim communities. Although Tudu later clarified that his comments were misinterpreted and referred only to investigations into illegal institutions, his statement triggered widespread fear and anger.

Muslim scholars, religious leaders, and community figures strongly condemned the minister’s remarks, asserting that India’s constitution guarantees minorities the right to manage their own educational institutions. They argued that many independent madrasas operate lawfully without government funding. Meanwhile, the minister promised reforms, including new managing committees and teacher recruitment through the School Service Commission, to improve madrasa education.

On Sunday, around 500 residents of Kolkata’s Park Circus area, mostly women, protested against the bulldozer threat and alleged religious targeting. Police and paramilitary forces intervened, leading to clashes and reports of police assault on demonstrators.

Former CIA Director and US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began lobbying for an attack on Iran as early as 2009. The disclosure came in an Al Jazeera report published Monday, where Gates recalled his interactions with Netanyahu during that period. Gates said that in July 2009, Netanyahu told him Iran’s regime was fragile and would collapse after a first strike.

Gates rejected Netanyahu’s assessment at the time, arguing that the Israeli leader underestimated Iran’s resilience and capacity to recover. He linked Netanyahu’s stance to Israel’s previous limited-response attacks in the Middle East, including the 1981 strike on Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor and the 2007 attack on a Syrian nuclear facility.

According to Gates, those earlier incidents may have shaped an unrealistic perception within Israel about how Iran might respond to a similar assault.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, head of France’s left-wing party La France Insoumise, has accused Europe of complicity in the escalating conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. In a post on social media platform X, he claimed that the broader regional war triggered by U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran has been made possible through European cooperation or partnership.

Mélenchon alleged that former U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s threats to destroy Iran are sustained by Europe’s involvement. He said global peace is now held hostage to what he described as the colonial interests of Trump and Netanyahu. As a declared candidate for France’s 2027 presidential election, Mélenchon urged voters to end France’s alliance with what he called “these criminals” and to break free from “the chains of servitude.”

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, come amid heightened regional tensions following military actions against Iran and continuing violence in Gaza.

The banned Awami League is reportedly attempting to reorganize and return to political activity despite ongoing restrictions. The party has begun forming new committees at various levels and is focusing on issues such as the measles vaccine controversy and agreements with the United States to influence public opinion. It has also initiated legal actions against Dr. Muhammad Yunus and his former interim government, seeking to discredit them and demand their trial. Political analysts believe these issue-based campaigns could evolve into broader anti-government movements if not contained.

Government authorities have maintained strict surveillance and arrests to prevent the group’s resurgence, while Awami League supporters abroad and some professional groups have called for lifting the political ban. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reportedly communicated online with party members, encouraging organizational revival and hinting at her return to Bangladesh within the year. Several new committees have already been formed, and social media activity has intensified.

Analysts note that despite the ban and public resentment, Awami League retains influence through professional and local networks. However, continued law enforcement pressure and anti-fascist political unity make a full-scale comeback difficult in the near term.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has renewed his call for families to have more children, labeling birth control a 'betrayal' and the country's declining birthrate a 'disaster.' Throughout his 23-year political career, Erdogan has promoted traditional family roles and urged couples to have at least three, preferably four or five, children. He argues that a higher birthrate will make Turkey stronger in the future. However, Turkey’s fertility rate has dropped well below the replacement level of 2.1, reaching a record low of 1.48 in 2024.

Demographers attribute the decline to urbanization, lifestyle changes, and women’s access to higher education, as well as economic hardship caused by inflation and low wages. Despite government incentives such as extended parental leave, cash bonuses, and interest-free marriage loans, many families say the support is insufficient amid rising living costs. Parents interviewed described struggling to afford housing, childcare, and basic needs.

Analysts note that Erdogan’s push reflects both economic and conservative Islamic motivations. Experts doubt the new incentives will reverse the trend, as younger Turks increasingly prioritize education, careers, and smaller families. The government has declared 2025 the “Year of the Family” and launched a decade-long population initiative through 2035.