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remarks amid discussions surrounding a record $11.1 billion US arms package for Taiwan, which he said is unlikely to be withdrawn despite Donald Trump’s warm ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping during Trump’s visit to Beijing.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.

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran, saying the country would be destroyed if it fails to reach an agreement with Washington. He made the remarks during a media interview, emphasizing that Iran had removed some missiles from underground and suggesting that the situation could escalate rapidly.

Trump also offered a mixed assessment of Iran’s current administration, indicating a possible change in his view of its diplomatic approach. He stated that in many ways, Iranian leaders now seem more reasonable than before. When asked about the need to extract enriched uranium from Iranian territory, Trump said the move was important both for security and for maintaining international image.

The comments, reported by Al Jazeera, reflect renewed tension between the United States and Iran, with Trump’s statements underscoring a hardline stance while hinting at potential diplomatic flexibility.

The High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh disposed of 7,104 old cases in a single day, according to an announcement from the Supreme Court administration on Thursday, May 14, 2026. The court’s Criminal Motion Bench resolved 3,842 old criminal miscellaneous cases, while the Writ Motion Bench disposed of 3,262 old writ cases on the same day.

A Supreme Court notice stated that this large-scale case disposal is part of an ongoing initiative directed by the Chief Justice to reduce the backlog of long-pending cases. The program aims to ensure faster justice for litigants, decrease case congestion, and enhance the overall efficiency of the judicial system.

The initiative continues as part of broader efforts to modernize court operations and improve access to timely justice across the High Court Division.

An eleven-party alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will hold a divisional rally in Rajshahi on Saturday to press for the implementation of referendum results, reduction of public suffering, and a fair share of Padma River water. The rally will begin at 2 p.m. at the historic Madrasa Maidan, with opposition leader and Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman attending as chief guest. Senior and local leaders of the alliance and opposition lawmakers are also scheduled to speak.

According to Jamaat’s central publicity department, preparations are underway to ensure mass participation from Rajshahi and other northern districts. Assistant Secretary General and Rajshahi regional director Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan MP has urged people from all walks of life in the northern region to join spontaneously. The alliance announced a months-long program on April 30 to push for reform-related referendum implementation and other demands.

The Rajshahi rally will mark the beginning of a series of divisional gatherings, with subsequent events planned in Chattogram, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rangpur, Barishal, and Sylhet, culminating in a grand rally in Dhaka in October, according to alliance coordinator Hamidur Rahman Azad.

The Ministry of Education has cancelled the appointment of Professor Dr. Anisur Rahman as the new vice-chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, only a few hours after issuing the official notification. The cancellation was announced through a circular signed by Md. Sultan Ahmed, Assistant Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, on Thursday. The notice stated that earlier orders related to the university, issued under specific reference numbers, were revoked.

Earlier the same day, Professor Dr. Anisur Rahman, a faculty member of the Department of Marketing at the University of Dhaka, had been appointed as the seventh vice-chancellor of Begum Rokeya University for a four-year term. His appointment had been approved by the President and Chancellor under Section 10(1) of the Begum Rokeya University Act, 2009. However, the ministry withdrew the order within hours through a new notification.

The source did not specify the reasons behind the abrupt cancellation or any official reactions from the concerned parties.

UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has resigned from his position, confirming the decision through a letter posted on social media platform X on May 14, 2026. In his statement, Streeting said he no longer has confidence in Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership, describing it as unethical and dishonorable to remain in government under such circumstances.

Streeting’s sudden resignation has stirred significant political turmoil in the United Kingdom and is being viewed as a major setback for the Starmer administration. The development follows growing dissent within the Labour Party, as four junior ministers recently resigned and called for Starmer to step down. Additionally, at least 86 Labour MPs have urged the Prime Minister to announce a timetable for his resignation or departure from office.

The mounting internal pressure indicates deepening divisions within the ruling party, intensifying the political crisis surrounding Starmer’s leadership.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit China soon, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. The announcement, reported by Russian media outlet RT on Thursday, stated that while the exact date of the trip has not yet been determined, all necessary preparations for the visit have already been completed.

Russian news outlets suggested that the high-profile visit could take place as early as next week. Putin last visited Beijing in September 2025, when he attended a major military parade and a top-level summit. The upcoming trip is expected to continue the pattern of close diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Beijing, though no specific agenda or meeting details were disclosed.

The Kremlin’s confirmation signals ongoing coordination between Russia and China, but further information on the timing and objectives of the visit remains pending.

U.S. President Donald Trump has formally invited Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan to visit the White House on September 24. The announcement was made on May 14, 2026, highlighting the upcoming high-level diplomatic engagement between the two nations.

During his remarks, President Trump praised the 'unprecedented and royal reception' he had received, describing it as incomparable. He also said that his discussions with Xi Jinping had been highly productive and expressed that spending time with the Chinese leader was a great honor.

The invitation signals continued diplomatic interaction between the United States and China, with both leaders emphasizing productive dialogue and mutual respect during their recent exchanges.