U.S. President Donald Trump said that it might be better for the United States not to reach any agreement with Iran after the latest round of discussions between the two countries stalled again. He made the comment on Friday during an event in Florida, emphasizing that the issue had dragged on for too long and could not continue in the same way.

Before leaving for Florida, Trump told CNN that he was not satisfied with Iran’s latest proposal aimed at resolving ongoing tensions. Speaking to reporters about his options, he questioned whether to launch a severe attack on Iran or to continue pursuing a possible agreement.

The remarks highlight renewed uncertainty in U.S.-Iran relations as negotiations remain deadlocked, with no clear path forward indicated in Trump’s statements.

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that the United States might 'take over' Cuba after concluding its military operations in Iran. Speaking at an event in Florida last Friday, Trump made the remark in a joking tone while introducing a friend from Cuba, saying the country could be seized almost immediately. He indicated that action against Cuba could follow soon after the Middle East campaign ends.

Trump added that he prefers to finish one task before starting another, referring to the ongoing conflict with Iran. He further joked that a large U.S. warship, possibly the USS Abraham Lincoln, could approach the Cuban coast, prompting Cuban leaders to surrender. The audience reportedly laughed at his comments.

Just before making these remarks, Trump had signed an executive order expanding U.S. sanctions on the Cuban government and related institutions, according to the report sourced from CNN.

The BNP-backed Nationalist Lawyers Unity Panel, known as the Blue Panel, won all 23 posts in the Dhaka Bar Association election. The results were announced just after midnight on Friday by Chief Election Commissioner Advocate Md. Borhan Uddin. Anwar Zahid Bhuiyan was elected president and Mohammad Abul Kalam Khan became general secretary, defeating Jamaat and NCP-backed candidates S.M. Kamal Uddin and Abu Bakkar Siddique. No independent candidates or the rival Green Panel secured any positions.

Other winners from the Blue Panel include Rezaul Karim Chowdhury as senior vice president, Abul Kalam Azad as vice president, and Mohammad Anisuzzaman as treasurer. The election took place on April 29 and 30, with 7,169 of 20,785 registered voters casting ballots.

The complete victory of the BNP-supported panel underscores their dominance in the Dhaka Bar Association’s leadership for the upcoming term, following a competitive election process.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Sylhet today, marking his first trip to the region since assuming office. He is expected to arrive at Osmani International Airport at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Upon arrival, he will visit the shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Shahjalal (R.), followed by the foundation laying of a city corporation project to address waterlogging near Chandnighat by the Surma River. At 11:35 a.m., he will lay the foundation stone of the Bangladesh Overseas Center Sylhet.

Later in the day, at 12 p.m., the Prime Minister will inaugurate a canal excavation program at Kandigaon Union in Sylhet Sadar Upazila. In the afternoon, at 3 p.m., he will launch the 'Notun Kuri Sports' initiative at Sylhet District Stadium, organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to identify young athletic talent. He is scheduled to attend a party meeting at 5 p.m. before returning to Dhaka.

The visit includes multiple development and youth engagement programs, reflecting the government’s focus on infrastructure and sports promotion in Sylhet.

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.