Israel is considering closing its consulate in Istanbul due to ongoing tensions with Iran and heightened security risks, according to an Israeli diplomatic source. Internal discussions are underway regarding the future of the consulate, one of Israel’s oldest diplomatic missions. Even if the Istanbul office is closed, the Israeli embassy in Ankara will remain formally open but without Israeli diplomats on duty.

Following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Israeli officials were withdrawn from Turkey, and both the Ankara embassy and Istanbul consulate have since been operated by local Turkish staff. The consulate building, located in Istanbul’s commercial district, faces potential demolition due to earthquake risks and high maintenance costs. A shooting incident near the consulate on April 7 further intensified security discussions.

Relations between Turkey and Israel have deteriorated since the Hamas-Israel war began, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sharply criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza. The two countries had restored diplomatic ties in 2016 after years of strained relations following the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that 26 ships safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz within the past 24 hours under its supervision. According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, the vessels included oil tankers, container ships, and other commercial ships, all of which passed through the strait with official permission.

State broadcaster IRIB reported that at least five of the vessels were supertankers. The report added that ships from several countries, including China and South Korea, have requested permission to transit the strategic waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key maritime route for global energy shipments, and Iran’s control over transit permissions highlights its continuing influence over regional maritime traffic.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has become the first official from President Donald Trump’s administration to publicly criticise Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. Huckabee’s remarks came after Ben-Gvir posted a video showing detained foreign activists from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla being taunted and mistreated. Several countries, including Italy, France, the Netherlands and Canada, summoned Israeli ambassadors in protest. Huckabee condemned Ben-Gvir’s behaviour as a betrayal of national dignity but his comments followed closely after the US Treasury sanctioned the flotilla’s organisers.

Analysts said the episode highlighted a double standard in US policy toward Israel and Palestinians. The sanctions targeted four organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which sought to break Gaza’s blockade and deliver aid. The US Treasury described the effort as supporting Hamas, while organisers rejected the accusation, calling the sanctions an act of complicity in genocide. Advocacy groups such as DAWN and the Quincy Institute argued that Washington’s actions reinforced Israeli impunity and showed the Trump administration’s unwillingness to meaningfully criticise Israel.

Observers said the incident underscored growing divergence between the US and other Western nations on international law and humanitarian principles.

Israeli forces carried out a series of airstrikes and gunfire attacks across at least eight towns in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. The operations included heavy machine-gun fire and a major ground assault in Khiam, along with air raids in the Tyre district’s Tair Debe area. Additional strikes were reported in Yatar, Sarbin, and Hadatha in the Bint Jbeil district, while Kfardounine, Fraoun, and Jibkin were also targeted.

The report stated that bombs were dropped from aircraft over Jibkin, but no casualties had been confirmed as of the latest updates. Local sources indicated that the intensity of attacks across southern Lebanon has been escalating. The information was attributed to Al Jazeera and Lebanon’s National News Agency.

The situation suggests a growing pattern of military escalation in the region, though the report did not specify any official responses or broader strategic context.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. At the start of their meeting, Xi warned that the world risked returning to a 'law of the jungle' situation, implying a global order dominated by power rather than rules. He described China-Russia relations as a major force for global stability. The meeting took place just days after Xi hosted U.S. President Donald Trump, highlighting Beijing’s active diplomatic engagements with major powers.

Before the bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People, Putin received a red-carpet welcome with full state honors. A military band played both national anthems, Chinese troops presented a guard of honor, and children waved Chinese and Russian flags while shouting greetings in Chinese. The ceremony mirrored the recent reception for Trump’s visit, which included discussions on trade, investment, and regional issues such as Iran and Taiwan.

The meeting underscored China’s effort to balance relations with both Russia and the United States amid shifting global dynamics.

France has summoned Israel’s ambassador following allegations of mistreatment of international activists aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced the decision in a post on X, calling the behavior of Israeli far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir toward the flotilla workers unacceptable. He said France demanded an explanation and emphasized that ensuring the safety of French citizens remains a government priority.

Barrot added that while France does not support the flotilla’s strategy, Israel must treat detained French participants with respect and release them promptly. The move follows a similar diplomatic step by Italy, which earlier summoned the Israeli ambassador over the same incident.

A video circulating on social media showing alleged mistreatment of the flotilla workers has sparked widespread criticism internationally. Analysts noted that the episode has intensified diplomatic pressure on Israel from European countries amid ongoing tensions surrounding Gaza.

The death toll from Israel’s ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip has risen to at least 72,773, with another 172,723 people injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry reported that the campaign, which began in October 2023, has caused extensive casualties and destruction across the enclave, affecting large numbers of civilians, including women and children.

Although a ceasefire was announced last October, attacks have continued almost daily. Since that time, at least 881 people have been killed and 2,621 injured in renewed strikes, the ministry said. The continuing violence has deepened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

International concern over the situation has grown, but a lasting ceasefire and adequate humanitarian aid have yet to be secured, leaving the region in prolonged instability and suffering.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that relations between China and Russia have reached an unprecedented height, describing them as a model for modern international relations. He made the remarks during the opening of a high-level meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Putin emphasized that despite global challenges, the two nations’ strategic partnership and economic cooperation continue to advance strongly.

According to Putin, trade between China and Russia has increased more than thirtyfold over the past twenty-five years, with annual trade volumes exceeding 200 billion dollars for several consecutive years. He identified the energy sector as the main driver of economic cooperation, noting that Russia remains a reliable energy supplier while China acts as a responsible consumer amid ongoing Middle East tensions.

Putin added that the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries serves as an exemplary model of state relations in the modern era, built on mutual trust and resilience against global pressures, with the welfare and prosperity of both peoples as its core objective.

China and Russia have jointly called for an end to what they describe as unilateral interference in international trade and supply chains. The appeal came through a joint statement issued by both countries, emphasizing that certain states, alliances, and their partners are taking unilateral actions that disrupt global maritime transport and threaten the integrity of supply networks.

Although the statement did not name any specific maritime route, observers believe the remarks may refer to the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping passage. The two nations also stressed that cooperation in maritime infrastructure, including ports, should be based on market and commercial principles to avoid politicization and excessive security measures.

The joint declaration reflects a shared position by Beijing and Moscow on maintaining open and stable maritime trade routes, highlighting their opposition to actions that could destabilize global commerce.

France has stated that it cannot confirm whether mines have been placed in the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement came after U.S. media reported that at least ten mines had been detected in the area. French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin told France Info radio that she currently has no confirmation on the matter but that France is preparing for any necessary mine-clearing operations.

Vautrin added that France and the United Kingdom are considering a potential joint mission in the region. As part of this preparation, a French mine-clearing vessel stationed at the country's base in Djibouti is being readied for deployment. The statement reflects France’s cautious stance amid reports of heightened maritime security concerns in the strategic waterway.

Further details about the reported mines or the timeline of any mission have not been confirmed, leaving the situation under close observation by French authorities.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni upon his arrival in Rome on Tuesday. The two leaders began Modi’s visit with a dinner and later toured the historic Colosseum, where they discussed bilateral relations and other key issues. Their cordial interaction quickly drew attention online after Meloni shared a photo of the meeting on X, captioned with a friendly greeting and the flags of both nations.

The image, showing the illuminated Colosseum in the background, went viral across social media, garnering millions of views, thousands of likes, and numerous comments. Many users remarked on the leaders’ friendly chemistry, with some making humorous comparisons to popular culture. Meloni stated that discussions would continue to strengthen India-Italy relations, while Modi also posted photos expressing optimism about deepening friendship between the two countries.

The viral exchange has become a focal point of both diplomatic and social media conversations, reflecting growing public interest in the evolving partnership between India and Italy.

Two Chinese supertankers carrying a total of four million barrels of crude oil crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, according to shipping data from Kpler and LSEG. The vessels had been waiting in the Persian Gulf for more than two months before departing through the key maritime route.

The report noted that only a few ships have recently passed through the strait, but the successful resumption of navigation and a softer tone from the White House have contributed to a slight decline in global oil prices. On Tuesday, President Trump stated that a peace agreement with Iran was close, adding that any deal would prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

The developments suggest a cautious easing of tensions in the region, with potential implications for oil markets and diplomatic relations involving China, Iran, and the United States.

China and Russia issued a joint statement condemning various military activities around the world, appearing to reference recent US actions in Iran and Venezuela over the past six months. Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin criticized what they described as treacherous military attacks, the use of negotiations as a cover for aggression, assassinations of sovereign leaders, and efforts to destabilize internal politics or incite regime change.

The statement asserted that such actions seriously violate the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law, and established norms of international relations. It warned that these behaviors cause irreparable harm to the global order built after World War II.

Amid growing concerns about the current world system during Donald Trump’s second term, Xi and Putin are positioning themselves as advocates for a new international order, signaling a shift in global power dynamics.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun announced that a South Korea-operated vessel carrying two million barrels of crude oil is crossing the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with Iranian authorities. According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho told political leaders in Seoul that discussions with Iran had been completed and the ship began its journey the previous day, proceeding through the strait with extreme caution.

Cho stated that this is the first South Korea-controlled ship to pass through the strait since the outbreak of war between Iran and the United States-Israel. The move follows an incident about two weeks earlier when another South Korean-operated vessel, the HMM Namu, was damaged by two projectiles or flying objects in the same area, leaving one crew member slightly injured.

The coordination with Iran indicates Seoul’s cautious approach to ensuring maritime safety for its vessels in a region affected by heightened conflict and security risks.

In Rangunia’s Lalanagar village of Chattogram, the bodies of four brothers who died in Oman were brought home early Wednesday morning. The four coffins arrived in separate ambulances, drawing a silent crowd of mourners. The brothers—Shahidul Islam, Sirajul Islam, Shahidul Islam, and Rashedul Islam—died from carbon monoxide poisoning emitted by an air conditioner inside a vehicle in Oman’s Al Muladda area of Al Batinah. Their coffins were placed in the yard of their family home before being taken to Hosanabad Lalanagar High School field for funeral prayers.

Thousands attended the joint funeral, which was led by their youngest brother, Md Enam. The four were later buried side by side in the family graveyard. Two of the deceased were married, while two others were preparing for marriage. Their mother has been informed of only two deaths so far and remains unaware that all four sons have passed away.

The bodies had arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday night and were received at Shahjalal International Airport by Chattogram-7 MP Hummam Quader Chowdhury.