The United States has decided not to deploy Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany for the time being, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed. He stated that the decision was not linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent criticism over the Iran war. In an interview with German broadcaster ARD, Merz explained that the U.S. currently lacks sufficient missiles even for its own needs, making such a transfer practically impossible. Merz recalled that former U.S. President Joe Biden had pledged in 2024 to supply the missiles to strengthen Germany’s deterrence until Europe developed its own defense systems. He also described the planned withdrawal of over 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany as “nothing new,” noting that the deployment had been temporary under the Biden administration and discussions on their return had been ongoing. The chancellor reaffirmed that NATO’s nuclear protection commitments remain intact and that the United States continues to be Germany’s most important partner within the alliance.

Iran has provided a detailed explanation of its 14-point proposal sent to the United States, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei. Speaking from Tehran, he said the proposal’s main objective is to end the war and reach an agreement. However, the most complex and sensitive issues have been deferred to a later stage for further discussion. Baghaei explained that the plan will proceed in two phases. The first phase involves achieving a ceasefire and reaching an agreement, while the second phase, beginning within 30 days, will focus on implementing the agreement and addressing remaining matters. He emphasized that Iran’s security guarantees stem from its own strength and influence, particularly its control over the Strait of Hormuz. Addressing speculation about the 30-day timeframe, Baghaei clarified that it is not a strict deadline or ultimatum but part of a continuous negotiation process. The proposal’s central focus remains on halting the war and maintaining Iran’s negotiating position from a stance of strength.

Retired U.S. Marine Corps special operations expert Jonathan Hackett has said the U.S. Navy does not have enough equipment to safely escort hundreds of stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Hackett explained that only about 12 U.S. naval vessels are currently capable of providing protection, while before the conflict more than 100 ships passed through the strait daily. He described the task of securing such a large number of vessels as practically impossible. Hackett identified two major threats: sea mines and Iran’s naval capabilities. He noted that the United States withdrew all its mine-sweeping ships last year, leaving only a few converted vessels for limited operations. He also disputed U.S. claims that Iran’s navy had been destroyed, saying the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps still possesses hundreds of small, fast attack boats capable of harassing or obstructing commercial ships. Hackett further raised concerns about insurance companies’ willingness to cover ships in the area, suggesting that even if the route were deemed safe, many shipowners might avoid it due to high financial and safety risks.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has reduced its revenue collection target for the 2025–26 fiscal year to Tk 4.3 trillion after failing to meet earlier goals. Initially set at Tk 4.99 trillion and later revised upward to Tk 5.54 trillion, the target proved unattainable as collections fell short by about Tk 1 trillion in the first nine months. Although the official target remains unchanged on paper, NBR officials confirmed that the revised internal goal is now Tk 4.3 trillion. According to NBR sources, Tk 2.88 trillion has been collected so far from income tax, VAT, and customs combined. To meet the new target, the agency must collect Tk 1.42 trillion in the remaining three months—over Tk 47,000 crore per month—far above its previous monthly record of Tk 37,000 crore. Officials acknowledge that achieving even the reduced goal will be challenging. The report links the revenue shortfall to political upheaval following the August 5 ouster of Sheikh Hasina, economic disruptions from corruption and capital flight, and slow implementation of the Annual Development Programme. Ongoing global instability, rising fuel prices, and declining garment exports have further constrained revenue growth.

Boro paddy collection in Moulvibazar has not yet started due to adverse weather conditions. Although farmers are willing to supply paddy, they are currently unable to do so. The district food department stated that since there are still four months left, they expect to complete the full collection within that period. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, this year’s Boro cultivation target covered 62,400 hectares, including 27,355 hectares in haor areas and 35,045 hectares in non-haor regions. Heavy rainfall and flash floods have submerged 5,042 hectares, completely damaging 2,282 hectares and partially affecting 2,160 hectares. Farmers are struggling to harvest ripe paddy due to bad weather and a shortage of labor, while high water levels have made mechanical harvesting impossible. The district food controller said the government plans to buy 6,004 tons of paddy directly from registered farmers at Tk 36 per kilogram. However, continuous rainfall and rising river levels have raised concerns about possible flooding in the coming days.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has reported a surge in applications to correct errors in national identity cards. These include mistakes in names, changes due to religious conversion, profession updates, divorce-related amendments, and other factual inaccuracies. The EC has decided to expedite the resolution of approximately 68,000 such applications currently pending. According to official data, field officers of the EC are authorized to handle three categories of correction requests, while the Director General of the NID handles birth date corrections. Previously, NID directors could approve changes within a ten-year range. Saiful Islam, Director (Operations) of the National Identity Registration Wing, confirmed that field officers have been instructed to process the pending applications quickly. The EC’s records show 67,864 pending applications, distributed across multiple categories, with the largest number in category ‘খ’. The commission aims to complete the corrections promptly under existing policy guidelines.

Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain emphasized citizen awareness during the ongoing month-long canal and drain cleaning campaign aimed at reducing waterlogging in the city. During an inspection of activities in East Madarbari, West Madarbari, and Pathantuli wards on Sunday, he said that a clean city cannot be achieved by the corporation alone and that residents must act responsibly. The mayor explained that despite cleaning efforts, indiscriminate disposal of plastic, polythene, and waste continues to hinder permanent solutions. He noted that the Water Development Board is constructing a Swiss Gate in the Gulzar Khal area, and temporary embankments have caused short-term water accumulation in nearby areas during recent rainfall. He apologized to residents for the inconvenience and stated that the Bangladesh Army’s 34 Engineering Brigade and the Water Development Board have been instructed to complete the work quickly. According to the mayor, completion of the Swiss Gate will help control tidal water and significantly reduce waterlogging. Ongoing renovation of Hijra Khal and Jamalkhan Khal is also expected to improve drainage and benefit city residents once completed.

The Bangladesh government is currently experiencing relief over the electricity and fuel situation, as the country has gone six consecutive days without any load-shedding. According to officials from the Power Division, electricity demand and supply have remained balanced across all nine zones, with peak-hour demand fully met. The Energy Division also confirmed that fuel reserves are sufficient for the entire month of May, with 355,169 tons of fuel oil in stock as of Sunday. Petrol pumps across the country are operating smoothly, and long queues have disappeared. Officials attribute the stable power supply partly to unseasonal rainfall, which has kept electricity demand lower than usual. Meteorologists expect intermittent rain to continue until at least May 10, helping maintain normal temperatures and easing pressure on the power grid. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation has taken measures to increase diesel reserves, with additional shipments being unloaded and more on the way. The improved situation follows months of severe fuel shortages and public unrest earlier this year. Government interventions, including price adjustments and tighter supply management, have restored stability to both the electricity and fuel sectors.

Continuous rainfall over recent days has submerged ripe Boro paddy fields in several areas of Natore’s Singra upazila and Tangail’s Madhupur upazila. Farmers are struggling to harvest waterlogged crops, with seedlings sprouting on wet paddy due to lack of sunlight. In Singra, early flooding and rising water from the Atrai River have threatened hundreds of farmers’ crops across the Chalan Beel region. Only about 15 percent of the 36,610 hectares of cultivated land has been harvested so far. Local residents and farmers in Singra are working together to protect their fields, filling sandbags to block floodwater despite limited resources. Women are also participating in the effort. The local agriculture office and the area’s Member of Parliament have visited affected zones and pledged immediate assistance. In Madhupur, around 500 bighas of paddy in the Haoda Beel area have gone underwater, putting debt-ridden farmers and sharecroppers in distress. Officials warned that if water does not recede quickly, many farmers could face total crop loss, turning a promising harvest season into a financial disaster.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman called on district commissioners to help fulfill the government’s pledges and establish a corruption-free, people-friendly administration. Speaking at the opening of the four-day Deputy Commissioners’ Conference 2026 at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, he emphasized that building a strong, accountable, and lawful state system is the government’s main goal. Senior officials, cabinet members, and advisers attended the event, which showcased a video on development activities. Rahman outlined several directives, including ensuring transparency in project spending, timely implementation, and maintaining quality. He instructed DCs to curb market syndicates, prevent artificial crises, and involve citizens in a 20,000-kilometer canal excavation program to boost agriculture and rural employment. He also stressed the use of artificial intelligence and fourth industrial revolution technologies to make public services faster and more transparent. The Prime Minister reaffirmed that honesty, merit, and efficiency will guide recruitment and promotion in the civil service. He praised officials for their professionalism during the February 12 election and reiterated the government’s commitment to implementing every pledge in the “July Charter.”

A fire broke out in the engine of a moving commuter train on the Lalmonirhat–Burimari route near Hatibandha station in Lalmonirhat on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred about one kilometer from the station, causing panic among passengers. The train, identified as Lalmonirhat–Burimari Commuter No. 71, was stopped immediately after the fire was noticed. According to witnesses and passengers, students from a nearby madrasa first saw the flames and alerted others by shouting. The train authorities halted the train, and local residents along with the students attempted to extinguish the fire. Fire service personnel from Hatibandha later arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control. Hatibandha Fire Service official Imran Hasan stated that no injuries were reported. He suggested that a mechanical fault might have caused the fire, though the exact reason is yet to be confirmed.

Eighteen rice mills in Chandpur are on the verge of closure due to the growing dominance of corporate businesses, frequent power outages, and a shortage of paddy. According to local mill owners, three mills—Mokka Auto Rice, Topadar Auto Rice, and Baba Auto Rice—have already shut down, while fifteen others are operating intermittently. The Chandpur District Rice Mill Owners’ Association reported that corporate firms have captured the rice market through financial strength and advanced technology. Association president Abdur Rahim Sarkar said that major companies such as City, Meghna, Bashundhara, Fuad, Pran, and Mojumdar now control both domestic and international rice sourcing and packaging, offering a wide range of consumer-friendly pack sizes. Local mills, limited to 25–50 kg sacks, cannot compete with these marketing strategies. Mill owners also cited insufficient local paddy supply, frequent power cuts, and dependence on crushers as key obstacles. Owners warned that without government financial incentives and measures to curb corporate dominance, the remaining mills may soon close, leaving around two thousand workers unemployed.

In Banshkhali, Chattogram, more than 300,000 coastal residents remain vulnerable to cyclones and tidal surges as no permanent or sustainable embankment has been built in the past 35 years. The 37-kilometer embankment, destroyed by the 1991 cyclone, has yet to be properly reconstructed. Although the government recently allocated Tk 4.53 billion for rebuilding, locals have alleged irregularities and poor-quality work, leaving large sections cracked and ineffective during monsoon season. Residents from areas including Khan Khanabad, Kadam Rasul, Chhanua, Boroghona, Gondamara, and Premashia report that seawater regularly floods their homes and farmlands, causing severe crop losses and forcing thousands into waterlogged conditions. Local leaders and residents have urged immediate action for a permanent embankment, citing long-standing political promises that remain unfulfilled. Agricultural officials warn that rising sea levels and salinity are damaging farmland, freshwater sources, and fisheries. Banshkhali’s Member of Parliament Maulana Zahirul Islam has visited the site and warned contractors against corruption, insisting that reconstruction must follow the approved schedule.

More than six months after a ceasefire brokered by the United States, Israeli military attacks continue in the blockaded Gaza Strip, targeting local residents. According to a recent report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, at least 8,000 Palestinian bodies remain trapped under rubble from Israeli strikes. The report, published on April 27, stated that a lack of necessary equipment has hindered recovery efforts. Gaza is currently buried under an estimated 68 million tons of debris, of which less than one percent has been cleared. A joint analysis by the United Nations, World Bank, and European Union estimated that clearing the debris would cost 1.7 billion dollars. Alexander De Croo, head of the UN Development Programme, said that at the current pace, the cleanup could take seven years. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported that in the past 24 hours, two people were killed and three injured in Israeli attacks, bringing the total to 830 deaths and 2,345 injuries during the ceasefire period. Overall, more than 72,610 people have been killed and 172,448 injured in Gaza over two years of conflict.

Peshawar Zalmi clinched their second Pakistan Super League (PSL) title after defeating Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in the final held in Lahore. Playing his debut PSL season, Bangladeshi pacer Nahid Rana contributed significantly to the victory, helping his team chase down 130 runs with 28 balls to spare. Aaron Hardy scored an unbeaten 56, while Abdul Samad added 48 runs to secure the win. This marks Zalmi’s first championship since 2017. Nahid Rana initially struggled, conceding 13 runs in his first over, but recovered strongly to finish with figures of two wickets for 22 runs in four overs, including one maiden. He dismissed Glenn Maxwell and Hunain Shah with pace and yorkers. Hyderabad Kingsmen, batting first after winning the toss, were bowled out for 129 runs in 18 overs, with Saiyum top-scoring with 54 off 42 balls. However, the rest of the batting lineup collapsed under pressure. The victory gave Peshawar Zalmi a long-awaited return to the top of the PSL, while Nahid Rana’s performance highlighted his potential as a rising fast bowler in franchise cricket.