An Israeli soldier was killed during clashes in southern Lebanon, according to the Israeli military. The soldier, identified as 20-year-old Staff Sergeant Negev Dagan of the Golani Brigade’s 12th Battalion, died while fighting in the area. The military did not release further details about the incident. The death brings the total number of Israeli soldiers killed since the conflict with Hezbollah began in early March to 20. Despite a declared ceasefire, hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah have persisted in southern Lebanon. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have continued targeting Hezbollah positions and issued evacuation warnings for residents in several border towns in Lebanon. The ongoing clashes underscore the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the continuing volatility along the Israel-Lebanon border, as both sides maintain active military operations in the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping described Trump’s Beijing visit as historic and highly successful. On the second day of the trip, Xi guided Trump through the Zhongnanhai leadership compound, where China’s top leaders live and work. During their walk, Xi mentioned the site’s imperial history and a 490-year-old tree, while Trump admired the Chinese roses. Xi said he would send Trump rose seeds as a gift for the White House Rose Garden. Both leaders emphasized a constructive and strategic new phase in U.S.-China relations. Xi called the visit a milestone and said the two sides had set a new position for stable cooperation. Trump said they discussed trade, Iran, and other global issues, claiming they solved problems others could not. He expressed gratitude to Xi and said he looked forward to hosting him in Washington on September 24. Before leaving Beijing, Trump joined Xi for a formal lunch. The White House described the visit as memorable, while Chinese state media highlighted the leaders’ mutual respect and commitment to implementing key agreements.

China has called for renewed dialogue to end the ongoing war in Iran and restore stability in the Middle East. A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that ensuring peace and stability in the Gulf and the wider region is now the most important priority. The ministry emphasized that the conflict in Iran has caused severe disruption and serious consequences across the region. According to the ministry, it is essential to find a way out of the Iran war as soon as possible. China stressed that the opportunity for talks to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz should not be missed. The ministry further stated that dialogue and negotiation are the correct paths forward and that preventing any obstruction or tension in the Strait of Hormuz is crucial. The statement reflects China’s focus on diplomatic solutions to regional instability and its concern over the economic and security implications of continued conflict in the Gulf area.

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.

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.

Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) in Feni has solved the murder of Rina Akter, 44, wife of expatriate Mohammad Manik, whose body was found buried under sand at a construction site in Chochona village, Shorshodi Union, Feni Sadar. The main accused, mason Saiful Islam, 29, was arrested from Chattogram within two days of the incident. PBI Superintendent Ukya Singh disclosed the details at a press briefing on Thursday night. According to PBI, Saiful, who worked as a laborer at the victim’s under-construction house, confessed to killing Rina Akter while attempting to steal her gold earrings to repay a loan installment. After strangling her, he buried the body under a sand pile and fled. He later sold the earrings for Tk 15,500 at a local market. Based on his information, PBI recovered the jewelry from a gold shop. PBI stated that Saiful admitted his involvement during preliminary interrogation and will give a confessional statement in court. He has been handed over to the court on Friday.

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.

Police in Mirsarai, Chattogram, arrested a truck driver with 82 kilograms of cannabis during a late-night operation on May 15, 2026. The seized drugs are valued at approximately Tk 1.64 million, according to a police press release issued the same day. The arrest took place around 9:50 p.m. at a checkpoint on the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway near the Mirsarai police gate. Officers searched a yellow and blue truck bearing registration number Feni-T-11-0972 and found the cannabis hidden in the truck bed. The driver, identified as 19-year-old Ashraf Uddin Rahat from Feni Sadar’s Balighar Union, was detained. Police said Rahat claimed another driver, Rakibul Islam Sujon, left the vehicle earlier in Baraiahat and instructed him to continue toward Chattogram city. Mirsarai Police Officer-in-Charge Farida Yasmin stated that anti-drug operations are ongoing. A case has been filed under the Narcotics Control Act, and efforts are underway to arrest the absconding suspect.

Shikdar Saidur Rahman Mithu, convener of the Vanga Upazila Volunteer Party and former president of the Chhatra Dal, was seriously injured in an attack by unidentified assailants in Kapuria Sadardi area of Faridpur’s Vanga municipality on Thursday night. Relatives said police rescued him and admitted him to the Upazila Health Complex. He sustained multiple injuries from sharp weapons and hammers, according to hospital sources. The incident followed a dispute within the local party. A day earlier, police had detained two youths, Soeb and Shihab, for questioning and later released them in the presence of Upazila BNP General Secretary Ayub Molla. Photos and videos of the detention circulated on social media, and Mithu shared them on Facebook, reportedly angering the two men and their associates. Later that night, he was attacked while returning home. Ayub Molla denied any involvement in the assault, condemning any attempt to falsely implicate him. Police said they responded quickly, rescued Mithu, and would take legal action after investigation if a formal complaint is filed.

The Bangladesh Madrasa General Teachers Association (BMGTA) has demanded that 20 percent of the upcoming national budget be allocated to the education sector. The demand was made at a press conference held at the National Press Club on Friday morning, where the association’s founder president Md. Harun-or-Rashid presented a written statement. The group also called for full festival allowances for MPO-listed teachers and the nationalization of all education systems, including madrasas. According to the statement, the education sector received Tk 95,644 crore in the 2025–26 fiscal year, representing 12.1 percent of the total national budget, only Tk 934 crore higher than the previous year. The association noted that international standards recommend allocating 15–20 percent of the national budget or 4–6 percent of GDP to education, but Bangladesh’s allocation remains below both benchmarks. The statement added that this shortfall negatively affects marginalized communities. The association further demanded the implementation of the ninth pay scale, government-standard medical and housing allowances, promotion opportunities for teachers, and the inclusion of independent ibtedayi madrasas under the MPO scheme.

Farmers across Cumilla are struggling to harvest ripe Boro paddy due to an acute shortage of laborers. Despite offering double the usual wages, they are unable to find workers, leaving large areas of golden paddy unharvested and at risk of damage. The crisis has spread across Chandina, Debidwar, Muradnagar, Sadar Dakshin, Brahmanpara, Burichang, Barura, and Laksam upazilas. Farmers report that daily wages have surged from Tk 700–800 to as high as two maunds of paddy per day, yet labor remains scarce. Many rural workers have shifted to urban jobs in brick kilns, construction, garment factories, or battery-run rickshaw driving, which offer higher income with less effort. The sudden ripening of paddy across the district has further intensified demand. Heavy rainfall last week damaged around 3,000 hectares of paddy, with 36 hectares severely affected, causing losses estimated at Tk 8–9 million. Officials said the government is purchasing paddy at Tk 36 per kilogram, but small farmers complain of complex procedures at government warehouses, forcing them to sell at lower local market prices. Agricultural experts warn that without fair pricing and mechanization support, many farmers may abandon paddy cultivation in the future.

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.