A US intelligence report submitted to administration officials this week indicates that Iran could withstand the American naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz for three to four months before facing a severe economic crisis. The Washington Post, citing four officials familiar with the matter, reported that the assessment raises new questions about President Donald Trump’s claims regarding the effectiveness of US military and economic pressure on Tehran. According to the report, despite a week of US and Israeli strikes targeting Iran’s military infrastructure and arsenals, the country retains substantial ballistic missile capability. A US official said Iran still possesses about 75 percent of its pre-war mobile launchers and 70 percent of its missiles. Evidence also suggests that Iran has restored underground arsenals, repaired damaged missiles, and assembled new ones that were nearly ready at the start of the conflict. Another US official indicated that Iran’s leadership appears more determined and confident in its ability to endure sanctions and military pressure longer than the CIA had previously forecast.

Saudi Arabia has called on the United States and Iran to reduce tensions following reciprocal attacks between Tehran and Washington in the Strait of Hormuz. The appeal was made by Raed Krimli, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy, who posted on social media platform X on Friday, expressing support for efforts aimed at dialogue and de-escalation. Krimli stated that Saudi Arabia is concerned about the ongoing military tensions in the region and emphasized the need to lower hostilities. The call came amid reports that the United Arab Emirates was intercepting missiles launched from Iran, while Iranian media partly blamed Abu Dhabi for the escalation. During the conflict, the UAE has been among the main targets of Iranian attacks. Despite the clashes, former U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that a ceasefire agreement remains in effect, according to the report sourced from CNN.

Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain has emphasized the importance of knowing whether individuals are thalassemia carriers before marriage. Speaking on Friday at a seminar organized by the Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation Hospital in Malibagh, Dhaka, to mark World Thalassemia Day, he said that thalassemia is a congenital blood disorder that only affects children when both parents are carriers. The minister stated that the government is committed to ensuring healthcare for all under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He noted that one in nine people in Bangladesh carries the thalassemia gene, and around 8,000 children are born with the disease each year. He called for increased awareness through print and electronic media to prevent thalassemia and urged media outlets to create and broadcast educational content on the issue. Before the seminar, the minister visited various wards of the hospital’s daycare unit, spoke with patients, and inquired about their treatment services.

Rashed Pradhan, vice president and spokesperson of the National Democratic Party (JAGPA), said that India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had sought Dhaka’s cooperation to repatriate Bangladeshis staying illegally in India. Speaking at an event at the National Press Club on Friday, Pradhan stated that his party was willing to help India, but first India should send back Sheikh Hasina, whom he described as a fascist responsible for mass killings. The event was organized to welcome new members from various political and social organizations joining JAGPA. During his speech, Pradhan referred to Indian leader Suvendu Adhikari’s remarks about Hasina being the legitimate prime minister of Bangladesh and said she should be sent to Dhaka to face justice. He added that families of those killed in the July uprising and the general public were waiting to see her trial. Pradhan also criticized the current BNP leadership, alleging that it was acting under Indian influence and warned that the government would face a mass movement if the July referendum mandate was not implemented.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed a money laundering case against Mohammad Noor Ali, chairman of Unique Group, and his construction company Borak Real Estate Private Limited. The case, lodged at Banani Police Station under the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012, concerns alleged irregularities, fraud, and illegal fund transfers linked to the 'Banani Super Market cum Housing' project built on government land controlled by Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). CID’s preliminary investigation found that Borak Real Estate violated its contract by constructing a 28-storey building instead of the approved 14-storey structure, later housing a five-star hotel named Sheraton. The company allegedly failed to hand over DNCC’s due share and repeatedly influenced contract revisions. Investigators also discovered that necessary clearances from RAJUK and the Civil Aviation Authority were not obtained, creating flight safety risks due to excessive building height. According to the case, the accused earned Tk 115.58 crore illegally through hotel operations in the unapproved building and laundered the funds through transfer and conversion. CID’s Financial Crime Division continues to investigate and pursue the suspects.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he will not step down despite early local election results showing significant losses for the ruling Labour Party. Preliminary counts indicate Labour is losing multiple council seats across the country, marking a major setback for the party. Starmer accepted responsibility for the disappointing outcome but stated that resigning would only create instability. He described the results as very difficult and said they could not be taken lightly. Starmer added that the government would review the results carefully. Referring to Labour’s landslide victory in the July 2024 general election, he reminded that the party had been given a five-year mandate to transform the country. Starmer said he would outline the next steps for the Labour Party in the coming days, signaling a focus on internal assessment and future strategy.

About 300 leaders and activists from different political parties and organizations have joined the National Citizens Party (NCP) Dhaka North unit. The announcement was made on Friday afternoon at a press conference held at the party’s temporary office in Banglamotor, Dhaka. NCP Senior Joint Convener and Dhaka North Convener Ariful Islam Adib welcomed the new members with flowers. The event was attended by NCP Joint Member Secretary Shahreen Ira, Joint Chief Coordinator Rafid M Bhuiya, and Central Organizer Abdullah Al Monsur. Rafid M Bhuiya stated that around 100 garment workers from Uttara are also expected to join soon and will work with the party’s labor wing, Jatiya Sramik Shakti. Ariful Islam Adib said that the names of 35 key leaders among the new members would be announced as part of the party’s ongoing membership drive. The newly joined 35 leaders include representatives from several political and social organizations, such as Dr. Ashiqur Rahman Shuvo of the July Revolutionary Alliance and Nakibur Rahman, former secretary of Up Bangladesh Dhaka North.

France’s Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot announced on Friday that despite concerns over a potential jet fuel shortage caused by the Iran war, there is no expectation of major flight cancellations during the upcoming summer season. He said airlines have little interest in canceling flights during this peak revenue period, though some carriers have slightly reduced their schedules. Transavia France confirmed that only 2 percent of its flights in May and June have been canceled. In response to the possible fuel supply challenges, the French government is implementing special measures to support airlines. These include extending deadlines for social security contributions and tax payments, as well as allowing greater flexibility in fuel loading operations. Industry observers have warned that Europe could face a jet fuel shortage in the coming weeks, as the region imports about 75 percent of its aviation fuel from the Middle East. European authorities are working urgently to find solutions to prevent major travel disruptions during the summer holiday period.

UAE-based offshore marine support company Gulf Marine Services (GMS) reported a 24 percent decline in profit for the first quarter of the year, following the withdrawal of four vessels from a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country. The company said the move was a precautionary measure amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. According to Reuters, GMS’s core profit for the three months ending March 31 fell to 19.5 million dollars, compared with 25.6 million dollars during the same period last year. The company stated that operations in the unnamed GCC country were halted in March, resulting in no revenue from those vessels during that month. GMS did not disclose the country’s name for security reasons. The company added that crew members returned to all vessels in early April, about a month after the Strait of Hormuz was closed following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran in February. Customers resumed operations on two vessels shortly afterward. Despite the temporary losses, GMS maintained its full-year profit target for 2026, signaling confidence in recovery as operations gradually resume.

Preliminary results from the United Kingdom’s local elections indicate severe setbacks for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party. Early counts show that many Labour candidates have been rejected by voters across England, with the party reportedly losing around 250 council seats. In contrast, Nigel Farage’s right-wing populist Reform UK Party has gained more than 300 seats out of roughly 5,000 contested positions nationwide. Opinion polls in recent months had predicted a difficult outcome for Labour, reflecting declining public support for Starmer, described as one of the least popular British leaders in modern history. If the polling trends hold, Labour could lose up to 2,000 local council seats in England and risk its long-held dominance in Wales, where it has won every general election since 1922. The preliminary results also show gains for the left-leaning Green Party and centrist Liberal Democrats, which have secured 26 and 35 council seats respectively. These developments have increased pressure on Starmer and further weakened the political influence of the Conservatives.

Thousands of North Korean soldiers have reportedly fought alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, according to a BBC investigative report published on May 8, 2026. The report states that around 2,300 North Korean troops were killed while fighting for Russia. South Korean authorities said that after Russia’s sudden incursion into Ukraine’s Kursk region in August 2024, at least 11,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to assist in reclaiming parts of the area. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has publicly paid tribute to the soldiers who died in the conflict. The report suggests that in exchange for sending troops, Pyongyang received food, financial, and technological support from Moscow. In October 2025, Kim Jong Un reportedly ordered the construction of a museum in Pyongyang’s Hwasong district to honor the fallen soldiers. The findings highlight the deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, as reported by the BBC.

Residents of Panchagarh’s border area Tetulia have revived their decades-old demand to reopen the Shalbahan oil field, which was abruptly shut down nearly 37 years ago. The field, discovered in 1987 and inaugurated in 1988 by then-President Hussain Muhammad Ershad, had shown promising signs of oil reserves. A French company was assigned to drill up to 8,000 feet, but operations ceased within eight months without explanation, leaving the site abandoned and the reasons undisclosed. Local citizens and organizations are now urging the government to investigate the mystery and restart exploration, arguing that the field could significantly contribute to Bangladesh’s energy sector. The district administration has confirmed that a letter has been sent to the relevant ministry for evaluation. Activists and community leaders believe reopening the field could transform the region’s economy and reduce national fuel shortages. The site, once bustling with foreign experts and heavy machinery, now hosts residential homes, though the cement-sealed wellhead remains as a relic. Visitors continue to arrive, drawn by curiosity about the long-silent oil field.

Despite recent military confrontations between Iran and the United States, diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire and peace agreement remain ongoing. According to Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Tehran, neither side has officially declared the ceasefire broken. The U.S. administration maintains that the truce is still in effect, while Iran accuses both Israel and the United States of violating it. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that Tehran is still reviewing the proposal submitted by Washington. Although a response was expected through Pakistani mediators, Iranian officials said they are still examining the matter. Both sides reportedly remain interested in resolving the crisis through diplomatic channels, but significant differences persist at the negotiation table. Iranian officials have described several U.S. demands as unreasonable and hasty. The situation is expected to become clearer once Tehran issues its formal response. While mediation continues, uncertainty remains over whether a final agreement can be reached. The international community is closely watching the peace proposal, hoping it will ease global energy and trade disruptions.

Indonesia’s Mount Dukono volcano in North Maluku province erupted on Friday morning at 7:41 a.m. local time, killing three people, including two foreign nationals and one local resident. Authorities reported that at least 20 climbers remain trapped on the mountain, prompting an ongoing rescue operation. Five others were injured in the eruption, and the victims include two Singaporean citizens, according to local officials. Police Chief Erlichson Pasaribu confirmed the fatalities, while local rescue agency head Iwan Ramdhani told Reuters that efforts are continuing to locate and evacuate the trapped climbers. Among those stranded are nine Singaporeans and several Indonesian nationals. The eruption sent volcanic ash up to 10 kilometers into the sky, leading authorities to issue the third-highest alert level for the volcano. Rescue teams are working under challenging conditions as ash clouds and unstable terrain complicate access to the affected area, according to officials cited by BBC and Reuters.

Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) stated that three of its vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz in April without paying any transit fee or toll. The company confirmed this in an interview with Reuters on Friday. Iran had earlier proposed imposing tolls on ships passing through the strait as a condition for halting attacks by the United States and Israel. However, an MOL spokesperson said the company has no plans to pay such fees in the future. When asked how the ships managed to cross without paying, the company credited the efforts of relevant countries and stakeholders. MOL currently has several other vessels operating in the Persian Gulf. The spokesperson emphasized that the safety of the crew, ships, and cargo remains the company’s top priority. Two Indian-flagged LPG carriers under MOL also recently passed through the same route. The Strait of Hormuz remains a strategically vital waterway, handling about one-fifth of the world’s seaborne crude oil and LPG shipments, amid ongoing regional tensions over its control.