The Madhya Pradesh High Court has declared the disputed Bhojshala complex as a Saraswati temple, ruling in favor of Hindu petitioners. The verdict was delivered by a bench comprising Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi. The court observed that evidence showed the site functioned as a Sanskrit learning center and temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. It also noted that Hindu worship at the site had continued without interruption. The court invited the Muslim community to apply for separate land in the district to build a mosque.

The Bhojshala site has long been contested, with Hindus identifying it as a temple built by King Bhoj and Muslims claiming it as the Kamal Maula Mosque. Under a 2003 Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) arrangement, Hindus and Muslims alternated worship on Tuesdays and Fridays. The Hindu side challenged this arrangement, seeking exclusive worship rights.

Following a court order in March 2024, the ASI conducted a 98-day scientific survey and reported that the current structure reused parts of an earlier temple. The Muslim side argued in court that the ASI report was biased and favored Hindu claims.

Residents of Osmaninagar upazila in Sylhet have presented a six-point development demand to Humayun Kabir, the Prime Minister’s Adviser with the rank of State Minister, seeking comprehensive development, modern civic facilities, and administrative good governance. The demands highlight long-standing neglect, poor infrastructure, limited education and healthcare services, lack of gas and uninterrupted electricity, unemployment, and administrative irregularities.

Local citizens emphasized that despite being part of the Sylhet gas production zone, many areas still lack gas connections. They urged rapid expansion of gas and electricity supply, declaration of Osmaninagar as a municipality, and improvements in drainage, roads, and sanitation. The newly approved upazila health complex requires specialist doctors, modern equipment, and regular staff presence. Education issues include classroom shortages, teacher scarcity, and stalled implementation of a technical training center and technical school and college project.

Community leaders and educators stated that visible, sustainable development is essential to improve living standards. They called for coordinated initiatives to ensure quality education, healthcare, and infrastructure, warning that without real progress, citizens’ long-held expectations will remain unmet.

State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad (MP) distributed corrugated iron sheets and cash assistance among families affected by a recent nor'wester in Debiganj upazila of Panchagarh. The distribution event took place on Friday, May 15, at the Upazila Parishad hall room, organized by the upazila administration.

The event was presided over by Debiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sabuj Kumar Basak. Assistance was provided to affected families from various unions of the upazila. In addition to the relief materials, the state minister also distributed fishing nets among destitute fishermen and wheelchairs to sick and physically challenged individuals.

Local officials, public representatives, and beneficiaries attended the ceremony, including leaders from Debiganj upazila BNP and officers from different departments.

Nasiruddin Patwari, a leader of the National Citizens Party (NCP), declared that he would fight to the death to defend Bangladesh’s sovereignty and Islam. He made the statement on Friday after the Jumu’ah prayer during a rally held at the mausoleum premises of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and martyr Osman Hadi, organized to protest border killings.

During his address, Patwari emphasized that the NCP’s movement would continue with those who are devoted to Islam and committed to protecting Bangladesh’s sovereignty. He urged people who wish to be true nationalists to stand for the citizens of Bangladesh and safeguard those living along the border.

The event was part of a broader protest movement addressing border violence and national security concerns, reflecting the NCP’s focus on sovereignty and religious identity.

In the United Kingdom’s local council elections held on May 7, a total of 574 candidates associated with pro-Islam and pro-Palestine agendas won seats. More than 100 independent Muslim candidates secured positions in England alone, according to an analysis by the Henry Jackson Society (HJS). Overall, 5,066 councillors were elected across the country.

The HJS report stated that more than one in ten elected candidates in England campaigned on a Muslim-related agenda. While not all of them were Muslim, their political programs were explicitly linked to Islamic issues. Among the winners were 132 independents, 350 from the Green Party, 84 from the Labour Party, and six from the Liberal Democrats. Notable winners included Mohammad Suleman from Newcastle and Saika Ali from Lambeth, both Green Party candidates.

According to census data cited in the report, Muslims make up about 6.5 percent of the UK population, with the highest concentration in England. The Muslim population has steadily increased from 2.7 percent in 2001 to 4.8 percent in 2011, reflecting a continuing demographic trend.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh organized a protest rally and procession in Chattogram on Friday, May 15, 2026, condemning reported violence and persecution against Muslims in India’s West Bengal and Assam following recent elections. The gathering took place after Juma prayers at Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque, followed by a march through Jamal Khan Road that concluded at the Chattogram Press Club.

Speakers at the rally alleged that Muslims in India have been facing continuous oppression, claiming that homes, businesses, and religious sites were attacked in the aftermath of the elections. They accused the Indian government of fostering communal tension and criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what they described as “anti-Muslim politics.”

The protest called for Bangladesh’s National Parliament to adopt an all-party condemnation motion against the alleged persecution of Muslims in India. The speakers also urged the international community, the OIC, and the United Nations to address the issue seriously, warning that silence from the global Muslim community could embolden further abuses.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly protested the BNP government’s appointment of new vice-chancellors at 11 public universities on May 14, alleging that the selections were made based on political loyalty rather than merit. In a statement issued to the media on Friday, the party’s Secretary General, Mia Golam Porwar, expressed deep concern over what he described as the politicization of higher education institutions.

Porwar stated that the appointments prioritized party allegiance over competence and impartiality, warning that such practices threaten the academic environment and divide teachers and students. He recalled that Jamaat had earlier protested the appointment of partisan administrators to 42 district councils on March 15, calling it contrary to democratic principles. He argued that the government’s actions show a continued effort to bring key state institutions under party control.

Jamaat urged the government to reconsider the appointments and ensure that future university leadership selections are transparent, acceptable, and based on academic qualifications, emphasizing that politicization undermines democracy and education in Bangladesh.

Saudi Arabia has initiated discussions with Iran on a proposed non-aggression agreement aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East, according to a Financial Times report citing foreign diplomats. The talks are part of Riyadh’s broader effort to manage regional instability and prevent escalation. The report noted that Saudi Arabia has not publicly commented on the proposal.

The model under consideration is reportedly inspired by the 1975 Helsinki Accords, which sought to reduce tensions and promote cooperation among rival powers during the Cold War. European countries are said to support the initiative and are encouraging Gulf states to back it as well.

The discussions come at a time when Gulf nations fear that a weakened but more assertive Iran could continue to pose a threat to regional stability. The report also mentioned that Arab states remain concerned about Iran’s missile and drone capabilities and the instability surrounding Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt are deepening defense and economic cooperation, with Pakistan proposing to include Qatar and Turkey in its defense pact with Riyadh.

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.

Israeli far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich has declared that it is time to permanently erase the dividing boundaries between Areas A, B, and C in the occupied West Bank. His statement effectively signals a move toward Israeli territorial annexation. The remarks were reported on May 15, 2026.

Under the 1995 Oslo II Accord between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank was divided into three administrative zones: Area A, comprising 21 percent of the land under full Palestinian control; Area B, covering 18 percent under partial Palestinian control; and Area C, making up 62 percent under Israeli security control. In February, the Israeli government approved major changes to land registration and civilian administration in the occupied West Bank.

Palestinian officials have described these Israeli measures as violations of the Oslo Accords and as steps toward deepening the occupation, according to the report.

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.

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping share the same position on Iran’s nuclear issue. According to a Reuters report cited by local media, the two leaders discussed the matter extensively during a recent meeting, where they agreed that Iran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. They also reached a consensus on keeping maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz open and secure.

Trump described the meeting as successful, asserting that they resolved several issues that others could not. The report suggests that China’s involvement or support in this matter could play a significant role in easing tensions in the Middle East.

The development highlights a rare alignment between Washington and Beijing on a sensitive international security issue, though further details of the discussions were not disclosed.

Former legal adviser to the interim government, Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul, has expressed deep concern over the killing of a Bangladeshi citizen by Indian border forces. In a Facebook post on Friday, he stated that genuine friendship between two countries cannot exist when deaths occur along the border. He referred to the May 13 incident in Lalmonirhat’s Amjhol area, where a Bangladeshi youth named Khademul Islam was reportedly shot dead by Indian border guards.

Nazrul noted that similar incidents have continued even after the BNP government came to power. He said he had previously written and spoken against such killings, emphasizing that during his time in government, strong protests and demands for explanations were made to India, along with a firm stance at the border.

He argued that if someone crosses the border illegally, they can be arrested or warned with blank shots, but direct shootings resulting in deaths are unacceptable. Nazrul urged the BNP government to take effective measures to stop the killings, reiterating that true friendship cannot be built over dead bodies at the border.

The BNP-backed Nationalist Lawyers’ Panel, known as the Blue Panel, has won 13 out of 14 posts, including president and secretary, in the Supreme Court Bar Association election for the 2026–27 term. The results were announced early Thursday after vote counting concluded at the association’s auditorium. The Green Panel, supported by Jamaat-e-Islami, secured one member post. Voting took place on 13 and 14 May from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a one-hour break.

According to the declared results, A.M. Mahbub Uddin Khokon of the Blue Panel was elected president with 2,984 votes, defeating Abdul Baten of the Green Panel, who received 788 votes. Mohammad Ali of the Blue Panel won the secretary post with 2,582 votes, while his opponent A.K.M. Rezaul Karim Khandaker of the Green Panel got 786 votes. A total of 4,048 out of 11,097 registered voters cast their ballots.

This year’s election was marked by the absence of the Awami League-backed White Panel, which was barred from participation following a special general meeting decision on 26 April. It is the first time in the association’s history that Awami League-aligned lawyers did not contest.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on all nations to stand against Western dominance during a meeting of BRICS foreign ministers held in New Delhi, India, on Thursday. The session was chaired by Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. Araghchi urged BRICS member states to condemn the United States and Israel for violating international law and for what he described as illegal aggression against Iran.

He stated that Iran views BRICS as a symbol of a new world order in which the Global South plays a vital role. Araghchi also called on the bloc to take concrete steps to prevent the politicization of international institutions and to halt militaristic policies.

The remarks reflect Iran’s broader diplomatic stance of seeking stronger alliances within BRICS to counter Western influence and promote a multipolar global system.