Bangladesh has requested China's involvement and cooperation in the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project. The issue was discussed as a priority during a foreign minister-level meeting between the two countries in Beijing. The joint statement released after the meeting also emphasized strengthening cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and on Rohingya repatriation. Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman visited Beijing from May 5 to 7 at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. During the talks, both sides discussed bilateral relations, regional cooperation, and global issues. Bangladesh expressed gratitude for China’s longstanding support and reiterated its request for Chinese participation in the Teesta project, which has been under discussion for years. Diplomatic circles view China’s potential involvement as significant for Bangladesh’s water management and regional development, though India has expressed reservations. The joint statement further noted both countries’ commitment to enhancing political trust, aligning development strategies, and advancing their strategic cooperative partnership. They also voiced concern over the Middle East situation, calling for an immediate ceasefire and supporting diplomatic efforts for peace.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has denied any involvement or support by New Delhi in election engineering for any political party in Bangladesh. Speaking with visiting Bangladeshi journalists at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi on Monday, he said no individual issue would affect Dhaka-Delhi relations and emphasized that ties should be based on mutual respect and sensitivity to each other’s interests. Misri stated that India has worked with whichever government was in power in Bangladesh and clarified that past cooperation with the Awami League did not amount to interference. He noted that India is reviving over 40 bilateral institutional frameworks that had become inactive during Bangladesh’s interim government period. Discussions are also underway on water-sharing issues, including the Ganges and Teesta rivers, and on strengthening regional cooperation through BIMSTEC. He avoided commenting on Bangladesh’s request to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and said India continues to prioritize trade and connectivity. Misri also dismissed media reports about deploying animals along the border and said India is working to restore full visa services for Bangladeshi citizens soon.

China’s National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA) has advised major banks not to issue new loans to five oil refineries recently added to the US sanctions list for alleged involvement with Iranian oil. The directive, reported by Bloomberg News, also instructs banks to review their business dealings with these refineries but not to recall existing loans immediately. Among the sanctioned companies is Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery, one of China’s largest private refineries. The report suggests that Beijing’s cautious stance aims to shield its state-owned banks from potential secondary sanctions imposed by the United States. This move contrasts with a notice issued by China’s Ministry of Commerce on May 2, which had instructed companies to disregard US sanctions. Al Jazeera noted that it could not independently verify the Bloomberg report. The situation highlights a possible policy divergence within China’s financial and trade authorities regarding compliance with US sanctions.

A 75-year-old farmer named Taimush Ali died while harvesting paddy in Sripur Haor under Brahmanbazar Union of Kulaura upazila in Moulvibazar. The incident occurred on the afternoon of May 6, Wednesday. According to local sources, Taimush Ali from Adampur village went to the haor to cut paddy and suddenly fell ill around 4 p.m. Other farmers immediately took him to Kulaura Upazila Health Complex in critical condition, where doctors declared him dead. Dr. Sharmin Sultana Jereen, the residential medical officer at Kulaura Health Complex, confirmed that the farmer was brought to the hospital around 5 p.m. and was pronounced dead after examination. The report did not mention the exact cause of death or whether any further medical investigation was conducted. The incident highlights the physical risks faced by elderly farmers during the paddy harvesting season in rural haor areas of Bangladesh.

India’s political landscape has shifted sharply toward one-party dominance as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continues a sweeping series of electoral victories. Once-powerful opposition leaders Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal and M.K. Stalin in Tamil Nadu both lost recent elections, leaving Modi with virtually no major political challengers. The Congress Party, which once led India’s independence movement, now controls only four states, while Modi’s alliance governs 21. The BJP’s rise follows years of organizational discipline, a business-friendly image, and a strategy of uniting Hindu voters. Critics accuse the party of using state power to manipulate elections, including voter list revisions that allegedly disenfranchised minorities. In Bihar and West Bengal, millions of names were reportedly removed from voter rolls, fueling allegations of bias. Despite opposition claims of irregularities, the BJP has dismissed all accusations. Analysts say Modi’s dominance has reshaped India’s pluralist ideals into a more centralized, Hindu nationalist model. With the next national election due in 2029, questions remain over whether Modi will seek another term or who might succeed him within the BJP.

Global crude oil prices increased following reports of a potential peace agreement between Iran and the United States. Early Thursday trading saw US crude futures rise by nearly one dollar per barrel. According to Reuters, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures climbed 80 cents to reach 95.88 dollars per barrel, after hitting an intraday high of 96.33 dollars on Wednesday. Market analysts attributed the upward trend to optimism surrounding the possible preliminary peace deal between the two countries. However, Verisk Maplecroft’s head of energy and resources, Kaho Yu, cautioned that oil prices and shipping routes are unlikely to normalize until threats of attacks in the Strait of Hormuz are fully removed. Yu added that despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, the energy market has not yet returned to pre-crisis conditions. Discussions between China and Iran may help ease tensions, but the market remains focused on whether the Strait of Hormuz will reopen. The coming months’ oil supply and tanker movement will indicate whether lasting stability returns to the Middle East.

Japan’s stock market responded positively on Thursday to reports of a possible diplomatic agreement between the United States and Iran. Following the news, the Nikkei 225 index rose more than 4 percent shortly after trading began, reaching 61,937.78 points at 9:31 a.m. local time (GMT 00:31). Alongside the geopolitical developments, investors were closely monitoring movements in the Japanese yen. Market speculation suggested that the Japanese government might intervene in the currency market to prevent further depreciation of the yen. The report, citing Al Jazeera, indicates that optimism over potential diplomatic progress between Washington and Tehran has temporarily boosted investor confidence in Japan’s equity market.

Several oil tankers listed under U.S. sanctions have begun entering the Persian Gulf region despite a strict American naval blockade. According to vessel monitoring group TankerTrackers.com, at least two ships managed to breach the U.S. Navy’s perimeter. The group reported on social media platform X that a tanker named ‘Vina/Valley’ (9157478) crossed the blockade boundary on Wednesday. The vessel is known for regularly supplying Iranian liquefied petroleum gas to Yemen’s Houthi rebels. TankerTrackers.com added that alongside the smaller vessel, a larger Iranian oil tanker also reached the area, though both ships were currently empty. The United States has maintained a tight naval blockade around Iranian ports to pressure Tehran into ending the conflict and returning to negotiations. The arrival of these tankers occurred amid this heightened enforcement. The report, sourced from Al Jazeera, highlights continued maritime tension in the region as sanctioned Iranian-linked vessels test the limits of U.S. restrictions.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi has strongly condemned what he described as Iran’s 'baseless and unacceptable accusations' against the United Arab Emirates. The condemnation followed a statement from Iran’s foreign ministry alleging that the UAE was collaborating with Iran’s hostile parties. According to a GCC statement, Al-Budaiwi said the Iranian claims were part of a provocative and tension-escalating strategy targeting regional countries. He further accused Iran of launching brutal attacks on UAE territory and of persistently distorting facts in violation of international norms and laws. The GCC reaffirmed that its member states stand united with the UAE and fully support all measures taken by the country to safeguard its security, stability, and sovereignty.

Iran’s influential parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Galibaf mocked the United States’ military strategy against Tehran in a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. In his brief message, Galibaf altered the names of declared US military operations targeting Iran, referring to them sarcastically as “Operation Trust Me Bro” and “Operation Foxious.” He wrote that “Operation Trust Me Bro has failed” and added that it was time to “return to routine with Operation Foxious.” The remarks were reported by Al Jazeera and shared by the online outlet Amar Desh on May 7, 2026. The post reflects Galibaf’s dismissive tone toward Washington’s approach to Iran, using humor to criticize what he described as unsuccessful US military efforts. The comments appeared amid ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington over regional security and military maneuvers. No official US response or further details about the operations mentioned by Galibaf were included in the report.

German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd is losing about 60 million US dollars per week due to the closure of the Hormuz Strait, according to AFP. The company said the high risk of using this strategic waterway has sharply increased fuel and insurance expenses. Based in Hamburg, Hapag-Lloyd cited threats from Iranian drones and small boats as key factors behind the surge in insurance costs. The company explained that alternative routes through safe ports or land transport are limited and cannot fully replace the regular maritime routes in the region. Iran has required all vessels to undergo verification by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including sailing near Iranian coasts, providing crew and cargo details, and in some cases making payments. AFP reported that shipping companies now face a dilemma: either absorb millions in additional costs or risk violating US and EU sanctions by paying Iranian authorities for safe passage.

U.S. President Donald Trump told his supporters that he believes the ongoing war with Iran will end soon. He also indicated that efforts are underway to reach an agreement to resolve the stalemate over the Hormuz Strait blockade and Tehran’s nuclear program. The remarks were made during a phone call with party supporters, according to a Reuters report cited by Al Jazeera. Trump said the United States’ main objective in the conflict is to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He emphasized that most people understand the reasoning behind U.S. actions and that the situation would be resolved quickly. His comments suggest a dual approach of maintaining pressure while pursuing diplomatic engagement to end hostilities. The report did not specify any timeline or details of the potential agreement, leaving uncertainty about how soon the conflict might conclude or what form a settlement could take.

Mohammad Kamal, 35, younger brother of alleged Rohingya militant leader Nabi Hossain, was shot dead near the Friendship Hospital adjacent to Camp No. 8 in Balukhali, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Armed Police Battalion (APBn) commander Riaz Uddin Ahmed confirmed the incident, stating that unidentified attackers opened fire on Kamal and fled the scene. Kamal sustained bullet wounds to his chest and head and was declared dead after being taken to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital. Police officials said the motive behind the attack was not immediately clear but suggested it might be linked to a previous dispute over local dominance. Following the shooting, additional law enforcement personnel were deployed in the area, and operations are underway to identify and apprehend those involved. Kamal’s wife said he was attacked while returning home by auto-rickshaw after midday prayers, while his cousin claimed that members of an armed group carried out the assault. The body has been sent for autopsy at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has described the killing of his close aide and personal assistant Chandranath Rath in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, as a 'cold-blooded murder'. The incident occurred on Wednesday night, May 6, when assailants on motorcycles stopped Rath’s car in the Daulatala area and opened fire before fleeing. The attack took place within 48 hours of the West Bengal Assembly election results, sparking tension in the area. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, May 7, Adhikari said the attack appeared preplanned, claiming the assailants had conducted reconnaissance before striking. He stated that the state’s Director General of Police, Siddhanath Gupta, assured him of a full investigation. Adhikari urged party workers to remain calm, emphasizing that the BJP would not take the law into its own hands and called for an impartial probe to identify the real culprits. Adhikari also alleged that BJP workers across the state had been targeted since the election results were announced, citing incidents of shootings and stabbings in Basirhat and Baranagar. He said he had briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national leader Nitin Navin about the situation.

Hezbollah announced that it carried out 17 targeted attacks on Israeli forces that entered southern Lebanon on Wednesday. In a statement, the group said it used drones and rockets to strike Israeli troops and military vehicles in several areas, including Qantara, Biyada, Taybeh, Naqoura, Rishaf, and Aita al-Shaab. Hezbollah also claimed to have targeted specific military equipment, including a drone strike on a troop transport vehicle in Kawzah and an attack on a newly established command center in Qantara. According to the report, these ongoing exchanges of fire have further intensified the situation in southern Lebanon. The escalation comes amid continuing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, raising concerns about worsening regional instability. The report cited Al Jazeera as the source of information but did not provide details on casualties or official responses from either side.