In the United Kingdom’s local council elections held on May 7, a total of 574 candidates associated with pro-Islam and pro-Palestine agendas won seats. More than 100 independent Muslim candidates secured positions in England alone, according to an analysis by the Henry Jackson Society (HJS). Overall, 5,066 councillors were elected across the country.

The HJS report stated that more than one in ten elected candidates in England campaigned on a Muslim-related agenda. While not all of them were Muslim, their political programs were explicitly linked to Islamic issues. Among the winners were 132 independents, 350 from the Green Party, 84 from the Labour Party, and six from the Liberal Democrats. Notable winners included Mohammad Suleman from Newcastle and Saika Ali from Lambeth, both Green Party candidates.

According to census data cited in the report, Muslims make up about 6.5 percent of the UK population, with the highest concentration in England. The Muslim population has steadily increased from 2.7 percent in 2001 to 4.8 percent in 2011, reflecting a continuing demographic trend.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh organized a protest rally and procession in Chattogram on Friday, May 15, 2026, condemning reported violence and persecution against Muslims in India’s West Bengal and Assam following recent elections. The gathering took place after Juma prayers at Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque, followed by a march through Jamal Khan Road that concluded at the Chattogram Press Club.

Speakers at the rally alleged that Muslims in India have been facing continuous oppression, claiming that homes, businesses, and religious sites were attacked in the aftermath of the elections. They accused the Indian government of fostering communal tension and criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what they described as “anti-Muslim politics.”

The protest called for Bangladesh’s National Parliament to adopt an all-party condemnation motion against the alleged persecution of Muslims in India. The speakers also urged the international community, the OIC, and the United Nations to address the issue seriously, warning that silence from the global Muslim community could embolden further abuses.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly protested the BNP government’s appointment of new vice-chancellors at 11 public universities on May 14, alleging that the selections were made based on political loyalty rather than merit. In a statement issued to the media on Friday, the party’s Secretary General, Mia Golam Porwar, expressed deep concern over what he described as the politicization of higher education institutions.

Porwar stated that the appointments prioritized party allegiance over competence and impartiality, warning that such practices threaten the academic environment and divide teachers and students. He recalled that Jamaat had earlier protested the appointment of partisan administrators to 42 district councils on March 15, calling it contrary to democratic principles. He argued that the government’s actions show a continued effort to bring key state institutions under party control.

Jamaat urged the government to reconsider the appointments and ensure that future university leadership selections are transparent, acceptable, and based on academic qualifications, emphasizing that politicization undermines democracy and education in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s experienced cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim expressed excitement about a possible Test tour of Australia, a country where he has yet to play a Test match. Speaking at a press conference before the Sylhet Test, he described playing in Australian conditions as a major challenge but said Bangladesh’s current pace attack is ready to take it on. He highlighted young pacer Nahid Rana as a key talent, praising his speed, learning attitude, and continuous effort to improve.

Mushfiqur said Bangladesh now has a strong pool of eight to ten fast bowlers, including Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam, capable of putting pressure on opponents in any conditions. He believes the team’s pace attack could be especially effective on bouncy overseas pitches. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter also shared his views on domestic cricket, emphasizing the need for varied pitch conditions across venues to help young players adapt to different challenges.

He suggested that having diverse wickets—some spin-friendly, some bouncy, and some flat—would better prepare cricketers for the international stage.

Veteran batsman Mushfiqur Rahim said Bangladesh’s Test team has undergone a major transformation, now possessing a bowling attack capable of taking 20 wickets. Speaking at a press conference in Sylhet on the eve of the Test match, he noted that while Bangladesh’s batting had long been strong, it previously lacked a consistent bowling unit to win matches. The combination of young pacers and reliable spinners has made the team more balanced and competitive.

Mushfiqur praised the young pace bowlers, mentioning that their experience in first-class cricket has helped them mature and perform at the international level. He highlighted players such as Nahid Rana, Shoriful, and Taskin as examples of bowlers who are effectively using their domestic experience. According to him, Bangladesh’s improvement in Test cricket stems from having more consistent performers across the team.

Looking ahead, Mushfiqur expressed optimism about the World Test Championship, saying the team aims to secure as many points as possible at home while also challenging opponents in tough overseas conditions.

Several filling stations in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur have turned into temporary paddy drying grounds as customer traffic has sharply declined. Once busy with motorcycles, cars, and trucks, these fuel stations now host farmers spreading freshly harvested Boro paddy across paved forecourts. Farmers said they chose the stations because of the lack of open and paved spaces in villages, and the areas’ exposure to sunlight allows faster drying.

Station owners confirmed that customer numbers have dropped even after the fuel supply crisis eased. They cited higher costs, a slowdown in the transport sector, and the use of alternative fuels as reasons for reduced sales. With large open spaces lying unused, some owners have allowed farmers to dry and thresh paddy temporarily.

Local observers have warned that since petrol pumps store flammable materials, drying and threshing activities must be conducted with extreme caution. They urged both station authorities and local administration to ensure safety and prevent fire or electrical hazards.

Despite multiple meetings between Bangladesh and India pledging to end border killings and the use of lethal weapons, incidents of shootings by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) continue. In Lalmonirhat district, two Bangladeshi nationals were shot dead within five weeks, the latest on May 14 in Hatibandha upazila. Earlier, on April 8, another man was killed in Patgram. These incidents have sparked fear and anger among residents of border areas.

Local communities and observers say the ongoing violence threatens trust and stability in Bangladesh-India relations. They argue that repeated Indian assurances to stop border killings have not been implemented, and that the absence of accountability for BSF actions has allowed such incidents to persist. Reports indicate that BSF sometimes crosses into Bangladeshi territory, detains civilians, and uses force under its controversial “shoot on sight” policy.

Officials from Bangladesh’s Border Guard (BGB) maintain that they are acting responsibly to preserve peace and mutual confidence along the frontier.

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has been accused of entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and provoking Jewish settlers. The incident drew strong condemnation from Qatar, which also protested against Israeli settlers’ provocative actions and restrictions on access to the mosque.

According to the Qatar News Agency, the Qatari Foreign Ministry described Ben-Gvir’s move as an unacceptable provocation to millions of Muslims worldwide. The ministry said the act constituted a grave violation of international law and humanitarian law. Qatar warned that the move represented a dangerous attempt to alter the historical and legal status of occupied Jerusalem, emphasizing that such unilateral measures are null and void under international law.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry called on the international community to compel Israel to halt ongoing violations against Palestinians and to comply with international resolutions.

Saudi Arabia has initiated discussions with Iran on a proposed non-aggression agreement aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East, according to a Financial Times report citing foreign diplomats. The talks are part of Riyadh’s broader effort to manage regional instability and prevent escalation. The report noted that Saudi Arabia has not publicly commented on the proposal.

The model under consideration is reportedly inspired by the 1975 Helsinki Accords, which sought to reduce tensions and promote cooperation among rival powers during the Cold War. European countries are said to support the initiative and are encouraging Gulf states to back it as well.

The discussions come at a time when Gulf nations fear that a weakened but more assertive Iran could continue to pose a threat to regional stability. The report also mentioned that Arab states remain concerned about Iran’s missile and drone capabilities and the instability surrounding Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt are deepening defense and economic cooperation, with Pakistan proposing to include Qatar and Turkey in its defense pact with Riyadh.

As Eid-ul-Azha approaches, cattle farmers across Bangladesh are working intensively to prepare their livestock for the sacrificial market. In districts such as Netrakona, Jamalpur, and Bogura, farmers have invested heavily—some through bank loans and others from personal savings—to raise cattle using natural and local methods. Many farms are now in their final stages of preparation, with families and workers providing extra care, feeding, and health monitoring to ensure the animals are ready for sale.

Farmers report that the cost of cattle feed, medicine, and maintenance has risen sharply, increasing production expenses. In border areas like Bakshiganj, concerns persist about the illegal entry of Indian cattle, which could depress local prices. Livestock officials have instructed farmers to avoid harmful substances and use natural fattening methods, assuring that animals are being prepared safely. Despite higher costs, farmers remain hopeful for fair prices and potential profits if market conditions remain stable.

Officials in Bogura’s Dhunot upazila confirmed that local supply exceeds demand, indicating no shortage of sacrificial animals this year.

OpenAI has introduced Codex capabilities to the ChatGPT mobile app, allowing users to manage coding tasks and ongoing projects directly from their phones. The integration enables users to connect to laptops, devboxes, or remote environments where Codex is running, providing real-time access to live project states, approvals, and outputs. The update supports fluid collaboration across devices, letting users review results, approve commands, or start new threads while keeping files and credentials securely stored on their machines.

The new mobile experience is designed to help users stay engaged with Codex-driven work from anywhere, using a secure relay layer that syncs session states across devices without exposing machines to the public internet. OpenAI also announced Remote SSH support, allowing Codex to connect directly to managed remote environments, and introduced Hooks for prompt scanning, validation, and customization. Programmatic access tokens and HIPAA-compliant local use are also being rolled out for enterprise users.

Codex in the ChatGPT mobile app is now available in preview on iOS and Android across all plans, with Windows connectivity coming soon. Remote SSH and Hooks are available to all users, while enterprise features are limited to eligible plans.

A young man named Md Saiful Islam died after being buried under soil at a brick kiln in Lama upazila of Bandarban district on Friday morning, May 15, 2026. The incident occurred at the SBM Brick Kiln in the remote Ramyakhola area of Faitong Union. Saiful Islam, son of Mahabub Alam from Ramyakhola village, was reportedly loading soil for the kiln when he fell under a vehicle and sustained severe injuries.

Co-workers immediately rescued him and took him to Chakaria Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead. Lama Police Station Officer-in-Charge Muhammad Shahjahan Kamal confirmed the incident and said that a legal investigation will be conducted.

Authorities have not yet provided further details about the cause of the accident or safety measures at the site.

Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) in Mymensingh arrested three individuals, including a northern district Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader, for alleged involvement in a motorcycle theft and resale ring. The arrests took place early Friday during a technology-assisted special operation in various areas of Gouripur upazila. Those detained are Ashik Mia, 27, assistant organizational secretary of the district Chhatra Dal, Sohel Mia, 23, of Shahbazpur village, and Manik Chowdhury, 39, known as 'Freedom Manik'.

According to PBI Superintendent Mizanur Rahman, the arrests followed the theft of a Suzuki motorcycle from Hera Market on April 29. During the investigation, 'Freedom Manik', a fugitive in 29 cases, was detained Thursday afternoon, leading to further raids early Friday. Ashik Mia was caught with a blue stolen motorcycle, while Sohel Mia was accused of repainting and trading stolen bikes. The recovered motorcycle bore registration number Netrakona-L 11-1347.

PBI stated that all three suspects were sent to court Friday afternoon. The district Chhatra Dal president said the organization would review the allegations and take disciplinary action if proven true.

Police in Moulvibazar’s Barlekha upazila arrested former Bangladesh Army member Md. Rahed Hossain Mahed, 23, on Thursday, May 14, during a special operation targeting members of the banned extremist group Maktabah Al Himmah Ad-Da’watul Islamiyah. The arrest took place in the remote Bobarthol Saitghari area, where police detained him from a hill after a 12-hour operation. Later that night, Mahed was handed over to the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit.

According to police, Mahed, son of Nur Mia from Dashghar village in Sylhet’s Bishwanath upazila, had been dismissed from the army and is accused in an anti-terrorism case filed at Shahbagh Police Station, which is under CTTC investigation. Intelligence sources reported that he maintained contact with another arrested member of the same banned group, Ishtiaq Ahmed Sami Abu Bakkar Abu Mohammad.

Police said Mahed had been in hiding since a national red alert was issued and was attempting to cross into India illegally. Following his arrest, he provided important information during preliminary interrogation.

At least 20 Israeli soldiers and personnel have been killed in Lebanon since March 2, according to a report from Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Beirut. Reporter Zeina Khodr stated that among the dead are 19 soldiers and one civilian contractor. She added that six of the deaths occurred after a ceasefire began in mid-April between Israel and Lebanon.

The Israeli military confirmed early Friday that a 20-year-old soldier died during fighting in southern Lebanon, marking the latest casualty in the ongoing clashes. The report highlights continuing hostilities despite the declared ceasefire.

The situation underscores persistent instability along the Israel-Lebanon border, with recent fatalities suggesting that the ceasefire has not fully halted violence in the region.