U.S. President Donald Trump departed China on Friday after completing a three-day state visit. He left Beijing aboard Air Force One following a farewell ceremony held in his honor at Beijing International Airport. Trump had arrived in the Chinese capital on Wednesday night, receiving a red-carpet welcome at the start of his visit.

During the trip, Trump held two days of talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, covering a range of topics including trade, Iran, and Taiwan. The United States sought China’s cooperation in reaching an agreement with Iran. In addition to official meetings, Trump visited several historic sites in China as part of his itinerary.

On the final day of the visit, Trump and Xi met again and toured the historic Zhongnanhai leadership complex in Beijing, marking the conclusion of the U.S. president’s second-term state visit to China.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Israel is undermining the shared values of humanity. Speaking on May 15, 2026, he said that ongoing regional conflicts and crises have become major obstacles to global security, economic prosperity, and stability.

Erdogan highlighted that geopolitical rivalries, disruptions in energy security, and resulting financial instability have created new asymmetric risks that are testing the global system. He pointed out that the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has exposed the weaknesses of the existing international order.

He emphasized that establishing a fair, inclusive, and stable international system requires strong bilateral, regional, and global cooperation. His remarks were reported by TRT World, reflecting Turkey’s continued focus on global justice and multilateral engagement.

U.S. President Donald Trump has concluded his visit to China, where expectations were high that he would press Beijing to help halt the ongoing conflict involving Iran. China, a close diplomatic partner and major oil buyer of Iran, appeared to maintain its existing position despite discussions between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

According to a White House statement, both sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open and that Iran should never acquire nuclear weapons. The statement also noted Xi’s opposition to militarization or the imposition of tariffs in the strait, and hinted that China may purchase oil from the United States. However, China’s foreign ministry later reiterated that its stance on Iran remained unchanged, emphasizing continuity in its policy.

It remains unclear whether the Trump–Xi talks will have any tangible impact on the Iran conflict. For now, Beijing appears to have reaffirmed its established position rather than signaling any new diplomatic direction.

Israeli forces and settlers carried out widespread raids and attacks across several areas of the occupied West Bank on the morning of May 15, 2026. According to reports, a mosque was set on fire, and multiple vehicles and homes were vandalized during the assaults.

Citing the Palestinian news agency Wafa, the report said Israeli forces entered the city of Nablus and searched several houses, arresting one Palestinian. In a separate incident, settlers attacked homes in the village of Al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya, south of Nablus. Another attack occurred near the city of Ramallah, where settlers set fire to vehicles owned by Palestinians and torched a mosque, along with damaging other properties.

The incidents reflect continuing tensions in the occupied West Bank, with multiple areas experiencing simultaneous raids and property destruction, according to the report sourced from Al Jazeera.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has described U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing as a milestone in bilateral relations. According to a statement released on social media platform X, the meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Trump resulted in a series of new common understandings aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two nations.

The ministry said both leaders agreed on a new vision for building a constructive China-U.S. relationship based on strategic stability. This framework is expected to guide bilateral relations over the next three years and beyond. The statement added that the discussions deepened mutual trust, enhanced understanding, and advanced practical cooperation, contributing to much-needed global stability and certainty.

Both sides also agreed to strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional issues and to address each other’s concerns appropriately, according to the Chinese foreign ministry’s statement.

Israel is preparing to file a lawsuit against The New York Times after the newspaper published an investigative report alleging that Israeli soldiers and prison guards raped Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced the legal move on Thursday, rejecting the allegations as false.

The report, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Nicholas Kristof, included testimonies from 14 Palestinian men and women who described severe sexual abuse, including being attacked by dogs and subjected to violent assaults. A spokesperson for The New York Times said the article began with a call for unity in condemning rape regardless of political views on the Middle East conflict.

Israeli politicians have denied the accusations, claiming that The New York Times is spreading defamation. The controversy has drawn attention to the ongoing tensions between Israel and international media over coverage of alleged human rights abuses.

China has outlined a five-point peace initiative with Pakistan aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis in Iran and restoring stability in the Middle East. In a statement released on social media by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on May 15, 2026, Beijing emphasized that the current conflict in Iran and its neighboring regions should never have occurred, citing severe humanitarian and economic consequences. The ministry welcomed the recent ceasefire between the United States and Iran and urged that the momentum for dialogue be maintained.

According to the statement, China believes that negotiation is the only viable path to peace, while the use of military force leads to a dead end. It also called for the reopening of Persian Gulf maritime routes as soon as possible to safeguard global economic stability. The joint initiative with Pakistan is part of China’s broader commitment to President Xi Jinping’s Middle East peace vision, under which Beijing pledges to play a constructive role in achieving lasting peace in the region.

The proposal underscores China’s growing diplomatic engagement in Middle Eastern affairs and its emphasis on dialogue-driven conflict resolution.

Iran has begun implementing a new strategic plan concerning the Hormuz Strait, one of the world’s most critical maritime routes. According to Iranian state television, the country announced that the strait will no longer remain open to all, but will be closed to enemies or adversaries. An official from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed that at least 30 ships were permitted to pass through the strait since last night, though Tehran declined to disclose which countries received clearance.

Fars News Agency reported that several of the vessels allowed to cross were owned by Chinese companies, describing this as part of Iran’s broader plan. Iranian authorities stated that the Hormuz Strait will be “neither fully open nor fully closed,” signaling a shift toward selective control of maritime access. Discussions are reportedly underway to introduce a new system under which foreign ships may be required to pay transit fees or special charges for passage.

The move marks a significant change in Iran’s management of the strait, potentially affecting international shipping and regional maritime dynamics.

Algeria is increasingly likely to join a new strategic alliance led by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan, according to the report. The development follows Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s state visit to Turkey from May 6 to 8, 2026, during which 14 new agreements were signed in defense, energy, mining, and transport. Analysts view this as part of a deepening partnership between Algiers and Ankara, rooted in centuries of historical ties and reinforced by growing economic cooperation.

The visit took place amid major geopolitical changes in the Middle East and North Africa, driven by U.S.-Israeli actions against Iran. Algeria’s energy diplomacy and its role as a top global gas exporter have strengthened its regional influence. The country’s close relations with both Turkey and Saudi Arabia are seen as key to consolidating the emerging Ankara-Riyadh axis. The alliance could reshape regional power balances and slow normalization efforts between Arab states and Israel.

Algeria and Turkey are also expanding cooperation in defense production, energy trade, and counterterrorism. Their leaders’ shared positions on multilateral reform and humanitarian diplomacy further underline a growing strategic alignment.

The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran at a time inconvenient for the Board of Peace, which had been formed to pursue Hamas’s disarmament in Gaza. U.S. President Donald Trump had expected the conflict with Iran to accelerate Hamas’s disarmament, but instead, the war has emboldened the group. Just nine days before the war began, the Board of Peace had secured a $17 billion commitment for humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Gaza, signaling growing international support for disarming Hamas.

The conflict quickly diverted global attention, and Gulf states that had pledged major donations suffered heavy losses from Iranian counterattacks. These countries are now prioritizing defense spending over foreign aid. Although the Board of Peace resumed talks with Hamas, the group continues to reject disarmament proposals. An Arab diplomat involved in the discussions said Iran’s resilience has encouraged Hamas to prolong negotiations and harden its stance.

Board envoy Nickolay Mladenov acknowledged that Hamas is consolidating control in Gaza and delaying talks, leaving reconstruction plans stalled amid the ongoing regional instability.

The ongoing U.S. military involvement in the Iran war is being viewed as a major strategic victory for China, according to Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Vatanka said that the conflict is depleting American military resources and weakening Washington’s overall defense posture.

Vatanka noted that although the Taiwan issue was not officially on the agenda of the Trump–Xi Jinping summit, it remains an unavoidable topic. He questioned why the United States is investing so much blood and money in the Iran conflict when its long-term strategic challenge lies in a potential confrontation with China over Taiwan. He argued that the war is not strengthening but rather undermining U.S. military readiness.

According to Vatanka, while a Taiwan conflict is not imminent, Beijing is closely monitoring how the Iran war is draining U.S. capabilities. This situation, he said, represents a significant strategic win for China.

The United States and China have agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to ensure the free flow of energy. According to a White House statement released on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached this consensus during their meeting in Beijing. The statement also noted that both leaders agreed Iran should never possess nuclear weapons.

The White House said the meeting covered economic cooperation, including expanding U.S. business access in China and increasing Chinese investment in American industries. Trump emphasized progress on stopping the flow of fentanyl precursors to the U.S. and urged China to purchase more American agricultural products. Xi reportedly expressed interest in buying more U.S. oil to reduce China’s dependence on the Hormuz route.

In a separate Chinese statement, Xi warned that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to conflict between the two countries, calling it the most critical matter in U.S.-China relations. China has not yet made an official comment on the White House statement.

A Palestinian man was killed by Israeli forces near the village of Al-Lubban Ash-Sharqiya in the occupied West Bank. According to the Israeli military, the shooting occurred after soldiers allegedly saw three individuals throwing stones at moving vehicles. One person was killed and another was injured in the incident.

The Israeli army stated that its troops opened fire after identifying the suspects engaged in stone-throwing. The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not provide further details about the identity of the deceased or the condition of the injured person. The incident adds to ongoing tensions in the West Bank, where confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinians have been frequent.

No additional information was immediately available regarding local or official reactions to the shooting or any subsequent investigation.

Talks between Israel and Lebanon have become increasingly complicated due to security guarantee demands and Hezbollah’s refusal to compromise. Although a ceasefire was implemented earlier this year, cross-border attacks have continued, raising concerns about future stability. Both nations face significant challenges as they attempt to navigate unresolved issues through ongoing dialogue.

Diplomatic assessments indicate that Israel is seeking stronger security guarantees and the complete disarmament of Hezbollah, while Lebanon is emphasizing a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from its southern border. The main uncertainty arises from Hezbollah’s declaration that it will not adhere to any framework or outline resulting from the talks, posing a major obstacle to any potential agreement.

Despite these tensions, Washington and the U.S. State Department view the dialogue as a positive development. Analysts note that, given the long history of conflict between the two countries, the initiation of such discussions itself represents a significant step forward.

Amnesty International has called for an investigation into alleged war crimes by Israeli forces following the destruction of homes in southern Syria. The rights organization made the appeal after reports that Israeli military operations and shelling in the region had intensified, causing extensive damage to agricultural land and residential areas.

According to Amnesty, Israel has violated the 1974 disengagement agreement by seizing additional Syrian territory beyond the occupied Golan Heights. Local Syrian residents have accused Israeli forces of conducting frequent raids, detaining young men, and using herbicides that prevent farmers from accessing their land. These actions have prompted Amnesty to demand a formal war crimes investigation.

The call for investigation highlights growing concerns over Israel’s military activities in Syria and their impact on civilians, though no official response from Israeli authorities was mentioned in the report.