Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has claimed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has secretly applied for an arrest warrant against him. In response, he warned that he would wage a “war” against the Palestinian Authority. Smotrich also stated that he had ordered the evacuation of the Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar in the occupied West Bank, describing it as a move to weaken the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the territory under limited self-rule agreements with Israel. He accused the Palestinian Authority of supporting international legal actions against Israel, which he said had fueled current tensions. Palestinian official Wasel Abu Youssef called the eviction plan “very dangerous” and urged international intervention. The ICC prosecutor’s office declined to comment, citing confidentiality, and reiterated its commitment to neutrality in investigations and warrant processes. The ICC previously issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders over alleged war crimes. Analysts noted that any new ICC warrant against an Israeli official could further strain relations between Israel and its allies, including the United States.

The ongoing war with Iran has exposed long-standing weaknesses in the United States’ weapons production and military supply systems. Despite possessing advanced technology, the US defense industry is struggling to meet battlefield demands quickly. A New York Times report cited that producing a Patriot interceptor missile takes about 36 months and costs roughly $4 million each, while Iran produces hundreds of low-cost drones monthly at around $35,000 apiece. The US has already used more than 1,200 interceptors, raising concerns about supply shortages. The situation has revived former Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates’s criticism of the Pentagon’s expensive and slow weapons programs. Current Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is responding with a $1.5 trillion defense budget and plans to accelerate production. However, experts argue that increasing the budget alone will not solve the problem, emphasizing the need for structural reforms in procurement and production systems. Analysts warn that without rapid reform, the US may struggle to maintain its “unmatched military capability” in future conflicts.

The Ministry of Finance of Bangladesh has announced that starting July 1, all government revenues and receipts must be deposited into the Treasury Single Account (TSA) through the e-challan system. A circular issued by the Finance Division on Tuesday also instructed that all funds currently held in government accounts at commercial banks be transferred to the Bangladesh Bank’s TSA by June 30. According to the circular, any alternative payment methods maintained by government offices must be discontinued immediately. The decision aims to strengthen government cash management and ensure real-time deposits of public funds. The ministry noted that manual deposits through commercial banks had made it difficult to determine the government’s actual cash position. The circular further explained that funds held in government accounts at commercial banks could not be used promptly when needed, prompting the move to centralize all deposits under the Treasury Single Account system.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said the country's law and order situation has deteriorated, but the government refuses to acknowledge it. He made the remarks on Tuesday night after visiting injured physician Dr. Nasir Islam at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, who was attacked in Shariatpur. Rahman questioned why citizens feel unsafe if the situation is truly good, calling the government's claims deceptive. He demanded a fair investigation into the assault on Dr. Nasir and urged that those responsible be brought to justice. Rahman warned that if the state fails to ensure doctors’ safety, the entire healthcare system and the public will suffer. He called on the government to take effective measures to protect citizens and professionals. Dr. Nasir was attacked by relatives of a deceased patient at Shariatpur Sadar Hospital after being accused of negligence. He was later airlifted to Dhaka for treatment and remains hospitalized.

The bodies of four expatriate brothers who died mysteriously inside a car in Oman’s South Al Batinah region have arrived in Bangladesh. The remains reached Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday aboard a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. Member of Parliament Hummam Quader Chowdhury handed over the bodies to their relatives at the airport, expressing condolences and praising the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and the embassy for arranging the repatriation swiftly. According to the report, the ministry provided financial assistance of 35,000 taka per body for transportation and burial. The four brothers—Rashedul Islam, Sahedul Islam, Sirajul Islam, and Shahidul Islam—were sons of the late Jamal Uddin from Banderaj Para village in Lalangar Union, Rangunia, Chattogram. Their bodies were taken to Rangunia on Tuesday night, and they were scheduled to be buried after funeral prayers on Wednesday morning. Earlier, on May 13, the brothers reportedly died from suffocation caused by toxic air conditioner gas inside their car in Oman’s Al Muladdah area.

An inter-batch futsal tournament was held at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research of Dhaka University under the patronage of Md. Tarikul Islam Tarik, Joint General Secretary of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal Central Committee. The three-day competition, managed by students of the 16th batch, featured seven teams from different batches. In the final match, the 17th batch defeated the 16th batch 2–0 in a tiebreaker after a goalless draw in regular and extra time. Following the final, trophies and prizes were awarded to the champion and runner-up teams by Institute Director Dr. Mahbuba Sultana and Student Adviser Dr. Sheikh Touhidul Islam. Rakibuzzaman Ratul of the 17th batch was named best player of the final, while his teammate Mahmudul Hasan Tanvir was chosen as the tournament’s best player. Jalal Ahmed of the 17th batch was recognized as best goalkeeper, and Mehedi Hasan Toru of the 16th batch as top scorer. Tarikul Islam Tarik stated that such sports events encourage youth participation in healthy activities and foster mutual harmony and psychological development among students.

Four student organizations at Jahangirnagar University—JAKSU, Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Shibir, and Chhatra Shakti—have strongly condemned incidents of harassment, threats, and attempts to incite mobs against journalists performing their professional duties on campus. The statements were issued on Tuesday, May 19, following reports that some students had verbally abused and intimidated journalists over news coverage. In separate press releases, the organizations described the actions as unacceptable and contrary to the principles of free expression and democratic values. JAKSU leaders emphasized that campus journalists play a vital role in exposing irregularities and protecting student rights, while Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir called for responsible behavior and a safe environment for free and objective journalism. Chhatra Shakti also denounced threats to journalists’ careers and urged immediate administrative action. All four groups demanded a fair and impartial investigation by the university administration, exemplary punishment for those involved, and effective measures to ensure journalists’ safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.

The government has abolished the Supreme Court Secretariat, disregarding the July Charter commitment, and reassigned 15 officers from the Secretariat back to the Ministry of Law. The decision was formalized through separate gazettes issued by the Law and Justice Division under presidential order on Tuesday. The officers’ return was backdated to April 10, one day after the Parliament repealed the Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance. According to the ministry’s order, the 15 judicial service members will remain attached to the Law and Justice Division until further posting. The Secretariat had been formed under an interim government ordinance in 2025 following a High Court directive to establish an independent administrative body for the judiciary. However, the new government later repealed the ordinance through the Supreme Court Secretariat (Repeal) Bill passed on April 9. The move reverses earlier efforts to ensure administrative and financial independence of the judiciary, as recommended by the Judicial Reform Commission and supported by former Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed. The long-standing constitutional directive for separation of the judiciary from the executive remains a central issue in this development.

The United Nations has reiterated its call for all parties to respect the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, following reports of deadly Israeli strikes and retaliatory attacks by Hezbollah. At a briefing in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that while the situation is relatively less violent, the organization continues to urge adherence to the ceasefire and not to disregard it. Dujarric stated that by 4 p.m. local time, the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL, had recorded 206 artillery rounds fired from Israeli positions and tracked seven attacks believed to have originated from Hezbollah. UNIFIL also detected five airstrikes within its operational area. The UN’s renewed appeal highlights ongoing tensions despite the existence of a ceasefire, as both sides exchange fire in southern Lebanon. The organization emphasized the importance of maintaining calm and preventing further escalation.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the suspension of a planned military strike on Iran amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. He stated that the decision was made to allow room for diplomatic discussions to resolve the crisis. Following the announcement, international crude oil prices dropped by more than one percent. According to market analysts, the price of Brent crude fell to around 110 dollars per barrel, while U.S. WTI crude declined to about 103 dollars per barrel. Investors and energy traders are now closely monitoring diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran, as concerns persist over the long-term stability of the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime routes, previously handling about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Any instability in this region could have a significant impact on global energy markets.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has announced his provisional World Cup squad, including 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, who is poised to make history as the first male footballer to appear in six World Cups. The announcement was made ahead of the 2026 tournament, with Martinez emphasizing Ronaldo’s continued importance to the team. The squad currently includes 27 players, meaning at least one will be dropped to meet FIFA’s 23–26 player limit. Ronaldo will be joined by key players such as Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, João Neves, and Nuno Mendes, while forward Gonçalo Guedes has earned a surprise call-up. Defensive midfielder Samuel Costa, with only four international appearances, is also included. Notable omissions are Mateus Fernandes, António Silva, Paulinho, Pedro Gonçalves, and Ricardo Horta. Portugal has been drawn in Group K alongside Colombia, Uzbekistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. If Argentina’s Lionel Messi is also selected for his national team, he could share Ronaldo’s record of six World Cup appearances, pending Argentina’s final squad announcement.

Noakhali Superintendent of Police TM Mosharraf Hossain stated that spreading rumors on social media constitutes a cybercrime. He made the remark on Tuesday afternoon during a meeting with the newly elected leaders of the Noakhali Journalists’ Union at the police superintendent’s conference room. Earlier in the day, the union leaders met the district commissioner and exchanged greetings at the district administration office. During the police meeting, discussions covered various crimes occurring in the district and its police stations. The superintendent highlighted offenses involving false information, rumor-mongering, character assassination, and defamation through platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and fake online identities. He said that both perpetrators and instigators of such acts would be brought under the law. The police chief also assured journalists of prompt access to accurate information regarding any criminal incidents. Additional police officials and leaders of the Noakhali Journalists’ Union attended the meeting, which emphasized cooperation between law enforcement and the media in addressing cyber and local crimes.

Two outsiders were detained by the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) administration on Tuesday evening after allegedly harassing a female student near the campus’s Kilo Road area. Witnesses said the men made offensive remarks toward several female students, prompting immediate intervention by university security personnel who took the suspects to the administrative building. The detainees were identified as residents of Chhatak in Sunamganj district. According to university officials, the two were released after signing a written pledge not to repeat such behavior, in the presence of their guardians and relatives. Additional Registrar Foysal Ahmed was present during the release process. One of the accused admitted his wrongdoing and promised not to engage in similar acts again. The victim expressed concern that such incidents are becoming frequent on campus and criticized the practice of releasing offenders after written pledges, arguing that it encourages repeat offenses. She urged the administration to impose exemplary punishment to deter future harassment cases.

A protest rally and human chain were held in the Aruail area of Sarail upazila, Brahmanbaria, on Tuesday noon to denounce alleged persecution of Muslims in India. The event took place near the Aruail CNG station and was attended by residents from Aruail and Pakshimul unions, including religious scholars, students, and people from various professions. Participants accused Indian authorities of increasing incidents of citizenship deprivation, demolition of homes, shops, mosques, and madrasas, as well as bulldozer-led evictions, border killings, and violence against Muslims. Speakers described these actions as severe violations of human rights and urged the international community to take effective measures to stop them. The gathering was presided over by Maulana Abdul Malek and conducted by Maulana Dr. M A Mamun. Several local religious leaders and community representatives addressed the event, emphasizing unity and peaceful protest against the reported abuses.

An Indian Assistant High Commission officer, Narendra Dhar, aged 38, was found dead at his residence in the Khulshi area of Chattogram on Tuesday morning. Police recovered the body around 9:30 a.m. and sent it to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for autopsy. Authorities initially suggested a possible cardiac arrest but said the exact cause would be confirmed after the post-mortem report. The incident drew attention after police reported that the Indian mission requested confidentiality about the death. According to police and hospital sources, Indian mission officials were active throughout the recovery and autopsy process, reportedly urging that the matter remain low-profile and that the post-mortem be completed quickly. Forensic doctors declined to comment officially, while investigators said their work was limited because the death occurred within a foreign mission’s premises. Law enforcement officials cited diplomatic sensitivity under the Vienna Convention but emphasized that it should not restrict investigation. The absence of the final autopsy report has left the cause of death uncertain, while the secrecy surrounding the case has fueled public speculation and administrative discussions.