Newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump has made Iran’s nuclear program the central issue in any future discussions with Tehran, according to Al Jazeera’s Washington correspondent Mike Hanna. The report states that Trump has identified several non-negotiable positions, describing them as his ‘red lines,’ though the exact details remain unclear. What is certain, however, is that Trump seeks a firm assurance that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons.

Trump’s position emphasizes that Iran must permanently refrain from pursuing nuclear arms, rejecting any temporary suspension or time-limited agreement. While other expectations from Iran have not yet been publicly disclosed, the nuclear issue stands as the core of his administration’s approach to Tehran.

Observers believe that Trump’s uncompromising stance could reshape the future of U.S.–Iran relations, potentially setting a new tone for diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran.

The Bangladesh Lawyers Council has alleged that the Dhaka Bar Association election was neither fair nor acceptable due to widespread irregularities and fake voting. In a statement sent to the media on Friday, the council’s secretary, Matiur Rahman Akand, claimed that inconsistencies in forming the election commission allowed fake votes to be cast, which the commission failed to prevent. He said some voters found their votes had already been cast, and incidents of vote tampering occurred inside several booths.

According to the statement, irregularities and bias were present at every stage of the election process. Traditionally, the chief election commissioner is selected by mutual consent of both panels, and the commission is formed with equal representation. However, this procedure was reportedly not followed this time. The council alleged that the commission was dominated by the BNP-backed blue panel, making the election questionable.

The statement further claimed that improper voter verification, ballot distribution without voter slips, and pre-cast votes undermined credibility. It concluded that due to overall irregularities and bias, the election lost trust among lawyers.

A new public opinion poll in the United States shows that a majority of Americans believe the country's military attack on Iran was a mistake. According to the Washington Post survey, 61 percent of respondents said launching military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while 36 percent viewed it as the right move. The poll also noted that the joint U.S.-Israel offensive, which began in late February 2025, has led to thousands of deaths across the Middle East and caused instability in global energy markets, affecting living costs in the United States.

The survey further revealed that rising prices have changed consumer behavior. About 44 percent of respondents said they have reduced driving, and 42 percent reported cutting daily expenses. Among lower-income groups earning under $50,000 annually, these rates were even higher, at 56 percent and 59 percent respectively. The poll also indicated a decline in President Donald Trump’s popularity, as many voters viewed the Iran attack as inconsistent with his campaign pledge to avoid unnecessary foreign wars.

Additionally, 46 percent of respondents said the decision to attack Iran did not align with Trump’s previous policy positions.

Thousands of people across the United States joined coordinated May Day demonstrations and economic boycotts under the banner “May Day Strong.” The movement, held on International Workers’ Day, called for “no school, no work, no shopping,” with walkouts, marches, rallies, and block parties organized in multiple cities. In New York, Amazon workers, Teamsters members, and local politicians marched from the public library to Amazon’s corporate office, urging the company to end its contracts with ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.

In Washington, D.C., activists from “Free DC” blocked intersections carrying banners reading “Workers vs. Billionaires” and “Healthcare, not war.” Six young members of the Sunrise Movement were arrested in Minneapolis for blocking a bridge, while others staged a sit-in at a Portland hotel reportedly housing DHS officials. Labor unions, immigrant rights groups, political organizations, and student activists united around demands for immigration reform, anti-war policies, and higher taxes on the wealthy.

Teachers and students also joined the movement, with several school districts closing and unions declaring strikes. Organizers described the day as preparation for a potential general strike, with the United Auto Workers president calling for a major labor action in 2028.

Bangladesh’s Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is set to travel to Japan for a one-week visit. He will depart from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday, May 2, at 3 a.m. for the trip. According to a press release issued by Jamaat’s central publicity department on Friday night, his return to Dhaka is scheduled for May 9.

Dr. Rahman will be accompanied by two senior party figures: Saiful Alam Khan Milon MP, a member of Jamaat’s central executive council, and Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem Arman MP, the party chief’s foreign affairs adviser. The announcement did not specify the purpose or agenda of the visit.

The trip marks an official overseas engagement by the opposition leader, though further details about meetings or events in Japan were not provided in the statement.

Student Jamiat Bangladesh has announced a nationwide program to be held on May 5 in remembrance of those killed during the 2013 Shapla Chattar rally organized by Hefazat-e-Islam. The event will include discussion meetings and prayer gatherings across all branches of the organization.

According to a statement released to the media, Jubaer Hossain, central office secretary of Student Jamiat Bangladesh, said the program aims to honor the memory of the Shapla Chattar victims and pray for their souls. He urged all branches of the organization to observe the day with due respect and dignity.

The statement also mentioned that all units have been instructed to take necessary preparations to ensure the success of the planned activities.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he does not believe congressional approval is necessary for potential military action against Iran. He criticized those insisting on adherence to the War Powers Act, labeling them as unpatriotic. The statement was made as discussions intensified over the scope of presidential authority in military decisions.

Under the War Powers Act, any U.S. president deploying troops abroad must obtain congressional approval within 60 days. Trump argued that many past presidents have exceeded this limit and that the law has not been effectively enforced. He also noted that some view the act as unconstitutional.

Trump added that the recent ceasefire has given the United States additional time, which he described as part of a major victory. The remarks have renewed debate over executive power and congressional oversight in U.S. foreign military actions.

The 2026 West Bengal Assembly election was described as one of the most interventionist in India’s history since the Emergency, according to the report. It stated that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and central institutions exerted extraordinary influence, with the Election Commission, investigative agencies, and security forces allegedly acting in ways that undermined constitutional norms. The process of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) reportedly removed around nine million names from the voter list, about 12 percent of the electorate, disproportionately affecting Muslims, Matua community Hindus, and poor women.

The Election Commission termed the process as voter list purification, but the report claimed it lacked statistical or legal basis. It said 30 observers were deployed in Bengal compared to four in Uttar Pradesh, and 95 percent of national police transfers occurred in the state. Around 240,000 central security personnel were deployed, over three times the 2021 level. The report also alleged that the BJP used the “infiltrator” issue as a central campaign theme, linking it to Prime Minister Modi’s earlier demographic mission speech.

The article concluded that the 2026 Bengal election could serve as a model for future national-level political control, portraying it as a struggle for the state’s democratic survival.

Hannan Masud, Member of Parliament for Noakhali-6 and Senior Joint Chief Coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP), said the country's economy survives on remittances sent by expatriate workers. Speaking at a rally organized by Jatiya Sramik Shakti in Shahbagh, Dhaka, on International Workers’ Day, he accused corrupt individuals of looting the hard-earned money of migrant workers while making grand speeches in parliament. He criticized the appointment of a garments businessman as Bangladesh Bank governor, claiming the sector is a major source of money laundering.

NCP Joint Convener Ali Ahsan Junaid said workers played a vital role in past mass movements but have not received state recognition or effective dialogue since. He noted that factory closures, job shortages, and declining living standards have worsened, urging fair wages, safety, and representation for workers.

NCP Member Secretary and Rangpur-4 MP Akhtar Hossain warned that allowing those who looted billions from banks to regain ownership would endanger the economy and harm workers and the general public.

At a discussion meeting in Singra, Natore, marking International Workers’ Day, BNP leader and Member of Parliament Principal Anwarul Islam Anu stated that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had fulfilled all his promises within two months and eighteen days of forming the government. The event took place at the Singra Central Bus Terminal on Friday afternoon, following a rally organized by the Combined Workers Unity Council.

In his speech, Anu highlighted the implementation of several commitments, including the introduction of farmer and family cards, canal excavation, stipends for imams and muezzins, and tree planting to maintain environmental balance. He praised the prime minister’s address in parliament and his pledge to govern inclusively. Anu also warned that anyone misusing the party’s name for wrongdoing would face organizational and administrative action.

The MP added that issues at Singra Upazila Hospital had been raised with relevant authorities and that initiatives would be taken to improve agriculture and fisheries in the Chalan Beel region. The meeting was chaired by Sakhawat Hossain Sakha, with participation from local BNP leaders and workers.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s central Naib-e-Ameer and Member of Parliament Professor Mujibur Rahman stated that sustainable development in the country cannot be achieved without ensuring fair rights and dignity for workers. He made the remarks on Friday morning at a rally organized by the Bangladesh Workers Welfare Federation’s Godagari municipal and upazila branches in Rajshahi. The rally paraded through key streets before turning into a discussion meeting at the upazila hall room.

During his speech, Mujibur Rahman emphasized that workers are one of the main driving forces of the national economy. He called for guaranteeing fair wages, workplace safety, and social respect for workers, saying that a just society cannot be built without establishing their rights. He urged all to work together for workers’ rights, reopening closed factories, ensuring fair pay, and creating safe working environments. He also called for building worker-employer relations based on Islamic values, free from exploitation and inequality.

The event was attended by local leaders including Professor Abdul Khalek, Professor Kamruzzaman, and Nomayan Ali Master. It concluded with prayers for the welfare of the nation.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman stated that Bangladesh will prosper when its working people are well-off. He announced that the government will ensure employment opportunities for laborers. Rahman made these remarks on Friday afternoon while addressing a rally organized by the Labor Party to mark International Workers’ Day.

During his speech, Rahman said that many factories had been shut down during the previous authoritarian government, and his administration has taken initiatives to reopen them. He emphasized that his government is working for the welfare of workers and also supporting farmers by introducing farmer cards and standing beside them.

The event highlighted the government’s focus on labor welfare and agricultural support as part of its broader development agenda.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has pledged to continue working tirelessly to reclaim every inch of Lebanon’s occupied territory. In a post on social media platform X on May 1, marking International Workers’ Day, he reaffirmed his government’s commitment to restoring national sovereignty and improving citizens’ living standards.

Salam stated that alongside efforts to recover occupied Lebanese land, his administration is focused on revitalizing the national economy. He emphasized that economic recovery is a key government goal aimed at creating new jobs, restoring stability, and guiding Lebanon toward genuine renewal. His message reflected a broader vision of national resilience and economic revival amid ongoing challenges.

The statement, issued on the occasion of May Day, underscored the government’s dual priorities of defending sovereignty and addressing the country’s economic crisis, signaling a continued focus on both territorial and economic restoration.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar said that attempts to divide the nation by reviving old issues hinder progress. Speaking to journalists after addressing a workers’ rally organized by the Bangladesh Labour Welfare Federation in Cumilla on Friday morning, he stated that most current members of parliament were born after independence and that labeling them as anti-liberation or collaborators is rejected by the public.

Porwar claimed that a destructive force is active in promoting divisive politics, linking it to the current state of the National Freedom Fighters Council (Amendment) Bill 2026. He argued that despite the theoretical focus on workers’ rights in communism, such rights were not realized in practice. He added that Islamic labor principles cannot be implemented under Western democratic, socialist, or nationalist systems, emphasizing the need for an Islamic governance structure.

He further alleged that some groups are keeping old disputes alive as part of a foreign conspiracy and called for resolving such debates quickly to build a united Bangladesh for future generations.

The United States Senate on Thursday voted down a Democratic proposal to withdraw American troops from Iran. The measure failed by a 47–50 vote, with Republican senators Susan Collins and Rand Paul breaking ranks to support it. The rejection came just one day before a key legal deadline for the Trump administration under the 1973 War Powers Resolution.

The War Powers Resolution allows a president to conduct military operations for up to 60 days without congressional approval. The Trump administration had notified Congress of the Iran operation on March 2, making Friday the final day of that period. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argued that the 60-day clock was paused due to a ceasefire, a claim Democrats rejected as unconstitutional. Senator Susan Collins emphasized that the president’s war powers are not unlimited and that Congress has a constitutional role in such decisions.

Democrats indicated they may pursue legal action if military operations continue without congressional authorization. However, experts noted that courts have historically avoided intervening in disputes over war powers, leaving the issue legally ambiguous.