Australia has announced its decision to join a defensive military mission led by the United Kingdom and France to ensure the safety of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement was made by Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, who stated that Australia will contribute an E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to the mission. The aircraft is already deployed in the Middle East and is currently assisting the United Arab Emirates in defending against Iranian drone attacks.

Following a meeting with representatives from around 40 countries, Marles said that once the mission is formally established, Australia is ready to support the independent and strictly defensive multinational initiative led by the UK and France. He emphasized that the mission will complement diplomatic efforts and de-escalation initiatives while demonstrating a tangible commitment to protecting international trade security.

The mission is described as fully defensive in nature and aims to strengthen collective security in a strategically vital maritime corridor.

U.S. President Donald Trump has increased pressure on Cuba, raising fears that his repeated threats of military action against the Caribbean island could soon materialize. A CNN report citing Flightradar24 data indicated that since February, U.S. military surveillance flights near Cuba’s coast have risen sharply. Last Thursday, Washington imposed additional sanctions on Havana, which Cuba condemned as collective punishment aimed at civilians amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Cuban officials blamed U.S. fuel blockades for the crisis, while Trump signaled that an aircraft carrier returning from Iran might be deployed near Cuba. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Cuba’s economic system as unfixable, calling its leadership “incompetent communists.” A White House official told Axios that Cuba is a failed state nearing collapse, while the State Department accused Havana of ignoring public suffering and refusing reforms.

Analysts suggested Trump may favor limited military actions similar to those in Iran rather than a ground invasion, as Washington renews its focus on Cuba following uncertainty in the Iran conflict.

The European Union is preparing to present a plan this summer to ban social media use for minors, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She announced the initiative on Tuesday, citing growing pressure from several member states to strengthen child protection online. The proposal aims to address concerns about the impact of addictive online platforms on children.

Support for stricter regulation has increased in recent months, with France, Spain, Greece, and Denmark leading calls for stronger measures. Von der Leyen made the remarks at the European Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Children in Copenhagen, where she highlighted the rapid pace of technological advancement and its deep influence on childhood and adolescence.

Several EU countries are already moving toward national legislation on this issue. The European Commission has also formed an independent expert panel on online child safety to assess potential measures to combat addiction and social anxiety among minors. Similar restrictions have already been implemented in Australia and Indonesia.

Former minister, freedom fighter, and senior Awami League politician Engineer Mosharraf Hossain passed away on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 10:09 a.m. while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka. He was 83 years old. His eldest son, Sabedur Rahman Sumu, confirmed the death and said that arrangements were being made to bring the body to Mirsarai.

According to the report, Mosharraf Hossain had been suffering from various age-related complications and had been receiving treatment at Square Hospital in the capital for several days. He was a long-time member of the Awami League and served as a member of the party’s presidium as well as the Minister for Housing and Public Works.

His death has cast a shadow of mourning over the political arena. The family stated that details regarding his funeral and burial would be announced later.

Suvendu Adhikari took oath on Wednesday as a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. Although he won from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur constituencies, he was sworn in as the MLA from Bhabanipur. This seat had previously been represented by Mamata Banerjee, who won it three times and served as Chief Minister. According to legislative rules, Adhikari must resign from one of the two seats he won.

Adhikari has not yet resigned from the Nandigram seat but stated that he will continue to oversee the constituency while fulfilling his duties as Bhabanipur MLA. Several other newly elected legislators, including ministers Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Khudiram Tudu, Nisith Pramanik, and Ashok Kirtania, also took their oaths on Wednesday. Additional lawmakers are scheduled to be sworn in on Thursday.

On Tuesday, BJP legislator Tapas Roy was sworn in as the pro-tem speaker by Governor R.N. Ravi at Lok Bhavan, the former Raj Bhavan. The ceremony was attended by the new Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, following parliamentary tradition.

A man named Al Amin, aged 26, drowned in the Brahmaputra River after reportedly jumping into the water while fleeing an anti-drug operation in Jamalpur on Tuesday afternoon. The incident occurred in the Nandina area of Ranagacha Union. Fire Service divers recovered his body about four and a half hours later, around 5 p.m.

According to police, local sources, and the Fire Service, officers from the Department of Narcotics Control conducted the operation in the area. Several young men jumped into the river during the raid; four managed to swim ashore, but Al Amin went missing midstream. He was the son of Mukta Mia from Bashchara Union in Jamalpur Sadar upazila.

The Department of Narcotics Control stated that they were unaware of anyone jumping into the river and confirmed that five people were arrested during the operation. Police later received the recovered body from the Fire Service and sent it to the hospital morgue for autopsy.

The Ministry of Agriculture in Bangladesh is expanding the farmer card distribution program from 15 to 19 upazilas, with pilot implementation expected to begin in June 2026. A 13-member core committee met at the ministry to discuss potential challenges and future steps. The initiative, one of the government’s 31 election pledges, aims to provide cards to landless, marginal, and small farmers.

The program’s oversight is under discussion within the government. A prime minister’s adviser is working to bring the World Bank under the program’s supervision to ease financial pressure, while the agriculture minister prefers domestic management for equitable distribution. Pre-pilot phases revealed several issues, including land ownership complications and mismatches in beneficiary data during fund transfers.

The farmer card is designed to offer 10 types of benefits, including cash incentives, subsidized inputs, irrigation support, and easy loans. The government plans to distribute cards to 16.5 million farmers over four years at an estimated cost of 6.81 billion taka.

RAB-14 seized 46 sacks of government rice under the Vulnerable Women Benefit (VWB) program in Madarganj upazila of Jamalpur, allegedly stored for black market sale. The operation took place on Tuesday, May 12, at Shyamganj Kalibari Bazar in Sidhuli Union. The accused rice trader, Sajel, fled the scene during the raid. Authorities reported that the confiscated rice weighed around 1,380 kilograms and was handed over to Madarganj Model Police Station.

The raid was conducted based on secret information by RAB-14’s Jamalpur camp commander Major Labid Ahmed, with the presence of Madarganj Assistant Commissioner (Land) Rasel Dio. Police confirmed that a case has been filed against the fugitive trader, and efforts are ongoing to arrest him. The seized rice included 40 sacks of 30 kilograms each and six open sacks belonging to the Food Department.

Officials stated that the confiscated rice and empty government sacks were transferred to the police station, and similar operations against such irregularities will continue in the area.

At least six people were killed and 14 others injured when a temple wall and tin roof collapsed during heavy rain and strong winds in Maharashtra, India. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening at the Margudevi Temple in Modewadi village of Sangli district. Police reported that around 350 devotees and visitors were present in the temple premises at the time of the collapse.

According to Sangli district police superintendent Tushar Doshi, the victims were trapped under the debris after a section of the boundary wall and the tin shed fell on them. The injured were quickly rescued and taken to a local hospital for treatment, where they are currently receiving medical care.

Authorities have not yet provided further details on the condition of the injured or the extent of the structural damage to the temple.

A column published on 13 May 2026 in the Bangladeshi outlet 'Amar Desh' argues that recent discussions linking child deaths from measles to political failures are politically motivated. The writer, journalist Kakon Reza, criticizes actor Saju Khadem for a social media post about measles and accuses political opponents of using child illness and mortality to undermine the current government. The article cites a 2023 report from Prothom Alo referencing icddr,b data that 24,000 Bangladeshi children under five died of pneumonia in 2022.

The writer contends that long-ruling governments, particularly the Awami League and the Ershad regime, had decades to improve the health system but failed to establish adequate pediatric and specialized medical facilities. He contrasts this with the current administration, which he says has only recently taken office after a short interim period marked by protests and disruptions to vaccination programs.

The column concludes that blaming the new government for long-standing health sector deficiencies is a deliberate political tactic and urges focusing on solutions rather than partisan accusations.

Share trading of four listed non-bank financial institutions will continue on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) for now, according to DSE sources. The exchange confirmed that trading will proceed as usual on Wednesday, pending written instructions from Bangladesh Bank regarding the liquidation decision. DSE’s chief operating officer Shafiqul Islam said the exchange has sought clarification from the central bank and will act upon official communication once received.

On Tuesday, Bangladesh Bank’s board approved the closure or liquidation of five non-bank financial institutions—FAS Finance, Fareast Finance, Aviva Finance, Peoples Leasing, and International Leasing—starting in July. Among them, four are listed on the capital market. The decision followed extremely high default loan rates, ranging from 93 to nearly 100 percent, and the institutions’ failure to return depositors’ funds. The central bank plans to appoint administrators and allocate about Tk 5,000 crore in the next budget to repay individual depositors.

The liquidation will proceed under the Bank Resolution Act, which outlines procedures for restructuring or closing distressed institutions and settling creditor claims through asset sales.

Bangladesh and India are reassessing their bilateral relationship following political changes in Dhaka and evolving regional realities. The article argues that the two neighbors, long bound by an asymmetrical interdependence shaped by geography, trade, and security, are now navigating a new equation influenced by global power competition. India’s foreign secretary has emphasized mutual respect and people-centered ties, signaling recognition of the need for broader engagement beyond party-based alliances. Analysts describe this as a strategic recalibration after a period of mistrust between 2024 and 2026.

Bangladesh’s new government is pursuing a balanced foreign policy under its “Bangladesh First” approach, engaging simultaneously with the United States, China, and India. A recent trade deal with Washington lowering tariffs on Bangladeshi goods highlights this shift, while India remains vital for energy, connectivity, and regional stability. However, unresolved issues such as the Teesta water-sharing agreement and border incidents continue to test mutual trust.

The commentary concludes that the future of India-Bangladesh relations will depend on realism, mutual confidence, and domestic consensus in Bangladesh’s foreign policy. Sustainable stability requires both nations to prioritize pragmatic cooperation over emotional nationalism.

At least five people were injured in a violent attack at Haji Kachom Ali Fakir Super Market in Mulayd village of Gazipur’s Sreepur upazila on Tuesday night. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. after a dispute over unpaid dues between Faisal, owner of New Jamalpur Glass and Thai Aluminium Fixicate, and Rona Bhandari. According to allegations, Rona and a group of 30 to 40 people armed with local weapons attacked the shop, vandalized property, and looted goods.

Faisal claimed that Rona fired three rounds at him, but the shots missed. The attack caused panic in the area, and locals later recovered bullet shells and handed them over to police. Sreepur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nasir Ahmed confirmed that police visited the scene and said the matter is under investigation, with legal action to follow.

The incident has heightened tension in the local business community as police continue their inquiry into the violent confrontation.

Barcelona celebrated a double triumph after defeating Real Madrid 2–0 at Camp Nou and securing their second consecutive La Liga title. The victory marked a historic record for the Catalan club, becoming the first team to win the Spanish league title in such fashion. The celebration included a traditional open-top bus parade through the city, attended by around 750,000 fans.

During the parade, young player Lamine Yamal drew attention by waving a Palestinian flag amid the crowd’s jubilation. Many interpreted the gesture as a symbolic message of support for the Palestinian people and their rights. The moment quickly went viral on social media, sparking varied reactions among supporters.

At one point in the procession, Yamal also held up a jersey reading, “Thank God I’m not a Madridista,” reflecting the rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid. In a statement, Barcelona said the city’s streets turned into a sea of blue and red as fans celebrated another chapter of success in the club’s history.

The United Arab Emirates has designated 21 individuals and entities as terrorists over alleged links to Hezbollah, according to the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM). The list includes 16 Lebanese nationals and five Lebanon-based commercial companies. Under national law, UAE regulators have been instructed to identify any persons or organizations connected to those listed and to freeze all their assets within 24 hours.

WAM stated that the move reflects the UAE’s commitment to combating terrorism, extremism, and the financing of armed groups. The agency described the decision as part of broader regional and international efforts to strengthen security and stability.

The UAE, along with the Gulf Cooperation Council, had previously declared Hezbollah a terrorist organization in March 2016, underscoring its long-standing stance against groups accused of destabilizing the region.