US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that Washington will not accept any form of Chinese dominance, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s leading security summit held in Singapore. Addressing the gathering, he warned that no nation, including China, should seek unilateral control or threaten the security of the United States and its allies.

Despite the strong message, Hegseth noted that under President Trump, US-China relations are currently at their best in many years. He said military-level communication channels remain open and meetings are taking place more frequently. He emphasized that the United States expects China to respect its long-standing presence in the region.

Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, even as attention has recently been diverted by the war in Iran. He also stated that the era of the United States subsidizing wealthy nations has come to an end.

Return flights for Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims are set to begin tonight following the completion of Hajj rituals. The first flight, operated by Saudia Airlines (SV-5806), will depart from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 12:10 a.m. local time. On the first day, a total of 13 flights will carry 5,434 pilgrims back to Bangladesh.

The Hajj flight operations began on April 17 when Prime Minister Tareq Rahman inaugurated the first outbound flight from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The final flight carrying Bangladeshi pilgrims to Saudi Arabia arrived on May 21. The Ministry of Religious Affairs completed all necessary arrangements, including tent rentals, transportation contracts, housing, and visa processing, within the timeframe set by the Saudi government.

Authorities coordinated with airlines to ensure smooth transportation, allowing all registered pilgrims to travel to Saudi Arabia without any schedule disruptions. The return flights are scheduled to continue until July 1.

Israeli forces have indefinitely closed the historic Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, located in the occupied West Bank, according to reports from the Palestinian news agency Wafa cited by Al Jazeera on Friday, May 29, 2026. The closure prevented Palestinian worshippers from performing Friday prayers. Soldiers reportedly ordered all worshippers, guards, staff, and caretakers to leave the premises before sealing off the entire mosque area and shutting nearby checkpoints and gates.

The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs condemned the move, describing it as part of ongoing efforts to alter the mosque’s religious and administrative status quo and a serious violation of religious freedom. Local residents said that restrictions on Palestinian movement and worship in Hebron’s Old City have intensified over time, strengthening Israeli control.

The report added that on May 27, under heavy Israeli restrictions, only a limited number of Palestinians were able to perform Eid al-Adha prayers at the mosque. The Ibrahimi Mosque area remains under full Israeli military control, with about 1,500 soldiers deployed to protect roughly 400 settlers.

According to a report by Middle East Eye, the United States and Israel are actively working to remove Jordan from its long-standing supervisory role over the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem. The report states that a new arrangement is being drafted to bring the management of the holy site under Israeli authority, with the aim of transforming it into a multi-faith center. The initiative is reportedly being led by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

Unnamed American and Arab officials cited in the report said the proposed plan would end the authority of the Jordan-backed Islamic Waqf and allow Jews equal access and organized prayer rights at the site. Israel would also gain influence over the appointment of religious leaders and the content of Friday sermons. The plan envisions Al-Aqsa as a shared religious and tourism site for Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.

The proposal has reportedly been communicated to Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates, suggesting a rotational oversight model among Arab states. Saudi Arabia, however, is said to have strongly opposed the idea, while the UAE and Bahrain have not yet clarified their positions.

Israel has launched a new online platform for digital registration of property ownership in the occupied West Bank. The platform, named “Land Registry and Rights Settlement,” was introduced on Wednesday and aims to update property ownership records in the territory. The Palestinian Authority has condemned the initiative, describing it as a form of “dangerous colonial domination.”

According to the Palestinian Land Authority, the move directly undermines Palestinians’ legal and historical land rights and represents an attempt to strengthen Israel’s control over the West Bank. The Jerusalem Governorate and the Commission Against the Wall and Settlements have urged Palestinians not to engage with any Israeli “agency, committee, platform, or procedure” related to land and property matters.

Palestinian officials fear that the new digital registration system could be used to facilitate future land seizures and the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied territory.

China has decided to boycott the Asian security summit known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, which is being held in Singapore from May 29 to 31, 2026. The event, hosted at the Shangri-La Hotel, brings together defense leaders, military chiefs, and security experts from around the world. U.S. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth is scheduled to be the keynote speaker, but Chinese top officials will not attend despite the inclusion of major issues such as the Iran war.

According to the organizers, the 23rd edition of the Shangri-La Dialogue will include 54 ministerial-level representatives from 44 countries. The absence of China comes at a time of heightened regional and global tensions. Kepler, a maritime monitoring agency, reported that 57 percent of China’s crude oil imports in 2025 came from the Middle East, but supplies were severely disrupted after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

A senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, Oh Ei Sun, noted that renewed U.S.-Iran clashes have reduced the likelihood of any meaningful agreements emerging from the summit.

A video showing Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir mocking activists aboard the ‘Global Sumud Flotilla’ carrying aid to Gaza has triggered global outrage and strained Italy-Israel relations. Within hours of the video’s release on social media, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the behavior as unacceptable and demanded an apology, marking a sharp shift from her earlier stance toward the flotilla.

Analysts cited in the report describe the incident as a dramatic turning point in bilateral ties. Once one of Israel’s closest allies in Europe, Italy under Meloni had previously shown little sympathy for pro-Palestinian activists. However, recent Israeli actions, including the seizure of flotilla ships in international waters and incidents involving Christian clergy in Jerusalem, have fueled anger among Italians. Political analysts link the shift to domestic Catholic sentiment, economic concerns over the Iran-Israel war, and declining support for pro-Israel policies among younger voters.

In recent months, Italy has suspended defense cooperation with Israel, summoned the Israeli ambassador multiple times, and pushed for EU sanctions on extremist Israeli figures. Experts note that while ties have weakened, Rome has not yet pursued a full diplomatic break, suggesting the rift may be temporary.

U.S. President Donald Trump has sent a draft of an Iran peace agreement to allies, including Israel, according to a report published on May 29, 2026. The move comes as both sides seek to prevent recent ceasefire violations from escalating. The draft reportedly resembles versions circulated across the Middle East in recent days.

Under the proposed terms, the Strait of Hormuz would reopen for commercial shipping, U.S. sanctions on Iranian ports would be lifted, and Iran would gain access to about $12 billion in previously frozen assets. The plan aims to restore pre-war shipping levels within 30 days and initiate up to 60 days of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, including uranium enrichment limits and oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated that both sides are close to an agreement, though key issues such as Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and enrichment activities remain unresolved.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government has received a pledge from Russia to supply advanced air defense systems and other military assistance, according to a source cited by the BBC. The agreement was reportedly signed in Moscow, with Russian National Security Adviser Sergei Shoigu and Taliban Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid present. The deal includes air defense equipment, ground military hardware, and training for Taliban forces, though it remains unclear whether offensive systems such as drones are part of the package.

The source indicated that discussions between Moscow and the Taliban had taken place earlier, and the agreement formalizes their defense cooperation. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have maintained cordial relations with Russia, which kept its embassy open in Kabul and signed an economic deal in 2022 to supply oil, gas, and wheat. Mujahid emphasized the importance of expanding ties with Russia during his Moscow visit.

The agreement follows recent tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan that exposed Kabul’s air defense weaknesses. This marks the first formal military and technical cooperation deal signed by the Taliban defense minister with a regional power.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry announced on Thursday that 3,324 people have been killed since Israeli attacks began on April 17. The Israeli military claimed that about 2,500 Hezbollah fighters have been eliminated since March, including 800 after the ceasefire was declared. An Israeli officer said around 400 explosive drones have targeted Israeli positions since the truce. The ceasefire, intended to take effect on April 17, has never been observed, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc urged Lebanese authorities to withdraw from direct talks with Israel, alleging that Israel is using the discussions to impose security coordination favorable to its aggression. The group also claimed responsibility for about 20 attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon on Thursday. The United Nations expressed concern and called on both sides to respect the ceasefire, while UNIFIL reported 670 rockets and shells fired on Wednesday, the highest since April 17.

The renewed violence comes as preparations continue for U.S.-mediated talks next week, marking the fourth round since the conflict began following Hezbollah’s rocket attacks after the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in a U.S.-Israeli strike.

Oman has assured the United States that it will not impose any toll in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besent said on Thursday that he had spoken with the Omani ambassador, who confirmed there were no plans to introduce tolls in the vital maritime passage. The assurance came during a White House briefing, where Besent emphasized the long-standing 200-year relationship between the two nations.

Besent noted that Oman did not wish to risk sanctions on its individuals or financial institutions. Earlier, he had warned that any Omani support for Iran’s toll initiative in the strait could trigger U.S. action. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump had also cautioned Oman against interfering in the key oil shipping route, stressing that the country must act like others or face severe consequences.

Besent later clarified that the president’s remarks were intended to highlight the U.S. commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat against Oman, calling it “dangerous” and an act of “bullying.” In a statement, ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that threatening a United Nations member state that has long played a constructive and responsible role in regional peace and diplomacy violates the basic principle prohibiting the use of force. He described the threat as a sign of growing lawlessness in international relations.

The criticism followed Trump’s warning that if Oman entered into any agreement with Iran to manage shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, he would “blow up” the country. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Basent also said Washington would impose aggressive sanctions if Oman helped Iran establish a tolling system in the strait. Baghaei denounced these threats as attempts to blackmail an independent state and evidence of moral bankruptcy in U.S. politics.

He further urged the international community to respond to what he called the normalization of illegal actions and violations of international legal norms.

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for an immediate halt to Israel’s ongoing attacks in southern Lebanon, describing the situation as intolerable and unacceptable. Speaking at a joint press conference in Paris with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Macron condemned the strikes as indiscriminate and urged for peace restoration, renewed dialogue, and a lasting solution to the conflict.

Both leaders discussed the Lebanon conflict and reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to Lebanon’s stability and sovereignty. France and Indonesia have troops deployed under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), where both nations have lost soldiers while serving. Macron emphasized that their UNIFIL contingents continue coordinated operations to support peace efforts.

According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed at least 3,324 people, with 55 more deaths after a ceasefire extension on May 17. Macron highlighted the humanitarian crisis, noting over one million displaced people, and urged stronger international efforts to stabilize Lebanon amid continued Israeli military operations despite the ceasefire.

The United States and Iran have reached a preliminary memorandum of understanding to extend their ceasefire by 60 days and begin talks aimed at a permanent end to ongoing hostilities. According to US sources cited by Al Jazeera, the framework awaits final approval from President Donald Trump. The agreement follows weeks of stalled diplomacy and recent limited clashes between the two nations in the Gulf region. Details of the deal remain unclear, including whether the 60-day extension will serve as a negotiation period.

Axios first reported the agreement, later confirmed by the White House. The terms reportedly include unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of US naval blockades on Iranian ports. However, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency denied that any deal had been finalized, saying Tehran would announce it through Pakistani mediators if confirmed. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons.

The memorandum could ease tensions in the Strait of Hormuz but leaves unresolved issues such as US sanctions, Iran’s uranium stockpile, and the ongoing conflict in Lebanon involving Hezbollah and Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the country’s military to expand its control over 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, according to footage broadcast by Israel’s Channel 12. In the recording, Netanyahu stated that Israel currently holds 60 percent of Gaza and aims to increase that to 70 percent. When an audience member called for full control of Gaza, Netanyahu replied that the expansion would proceed gradually, beginning with 70 percent.

Reports from The Times of Israel and Al Jazeera indicate that Israel had already extended its control beyond the “yellow line” established in the October 2025 ceasefire agreement mediated by the United States. By March, Israeli forces had expanded their presence to 64 percent of Gaza. The ongoing occupation has left Palestinians unable to access nearly two-thirds of their territory, worsening conditions for the enclave’s two million residents.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs described Gaza’s humanitarian situation as extremely fragile, with displaced families living in overcrowded shelters and facing severe shortages of clean water. UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov warned that the crisis risks becoming permanent and urged international action to enforce the ceasefire and ensure humanitarian access.