A major burglary took place in broad daylight at Tamim Jewellers in Mirza Market, Chatmohar municipality of Pabna on Monday afternoon. Around 3 p.m., a six-member gang reportedly broke the shop’s lock and stole about four and a half bhori of gold and silver ornaments worth over Tk 1.2 million while the owner, Touhidul Islam, and others were away for lunch. Upon returning ten minutes later, the owner found the locks and safe broken. Chatmohar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Golam Mostafa said that he and ASP (Chatmohar Circle) Abu Bakar Siddique visited the scene. CCTV footage confirmed the involvement of a six-member group. A case was filed on Tuesday, and police have launched an operation to arrest the suspects. Local residents suggested the theft appeared pre-planned, noting that the nearby Hridoy Hotel sees frequent visitors from various areas. The incident has caused concern among local traders, recalling a 2013 armed robbery at another jewellery shop in the same town.

Saudi Arabia has called for calm as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to rise in the Middle East, putting a regional ceasefire at risk. The appeal was made on Tuesday through a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on social media platform X. In the statement, Riyadh expressed deep concern over the ongoing military escalation in the region and emphasized the urgent need to de-escalate the situation. The ministry also reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for intensified diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a political resolution to the conflict. The statement reflects Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional actor seeking to prevent further instability and promote dialogue amid growing uncertainty surrounding the US-Iran confrontation.

The United States mission in the United Arab Emirates has issued a security alert warning American citizens about a possible aerial attack. The alert was posted on social media platform X, urging US nationals in the UAE to follow local authorities’ instructions and be prepared to seek shelter if necessary. The embassy stated that it continues to monitor the situation closely. Earlier, the UAE reported that it had been targeted by missiles and drones launched from Iran. The US travel advisory for the UAE currently stands at Level 3, meaning Americans are advised to reconsider travel to the country. Despite the alert, the US Embassy and Consulate General remain open, though non‑emergency US government personnel have been relocated outside the UAE. The advisory underscores heightened regional tensions and signals continued caution for US citizens residing or traveling in the UAE amid evolving security risks.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 is scheduled to deliver its order today, Tuesday, on whether to frame formal charges against former Member of Parliament Shamim Osman and 11 others in a case concerning killings during the July uprising in Narayanganj. The three-member judicial panel, led by Chairman Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumdar and including Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, will issue the order. On April 23, defense lawyers argued for the discharge of their clients, while the prosecution presented its case on April 19, reading out three specific charges against the accused. Prosecutor Abdus Sattar Palowan requested the tribunal to formally frame charges and begin the trial. After hearing both sides, the tribunal set May 5 for the order. The other accused include Shamim Osman’s son Imtinan Osman Ayon, nephew Azmeri Osman, Ayon’s brother-in-law Minhaj Uddin Ahmed Vicky, former Narayanganj Rifles Club president Tanvir Ahmed Titu, DBC TV’s Narayanganj correspondent Raju Ahmed, former ward councillors Abdul Karim Babu and Kamrul Hasan Munna, former Awami League joint secretary Shah Nizam Uddin Ahmed, Jubo League leader Shahadat Hossain Sajnu, and Chhatra League leaders Habibur Rahman Riad and Sohanur Rahman Shubhra.

Iran has warned that any U.S. attempt to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz will face a 'severe' response. The warning came from Yadollah Javani, deputy head of the political branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Speaking to Iran’s ISNA news agency, Javani said U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to keep the waterway open have created new problems for him, adding that previous military actions brought no success. Javani accused the U.S. of trying to pressure Iran to ensure the passage remains open. Reiterating the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s stance, he said the United States is no longer a global superpower and now faces another power on equal footing. He claimed that in any conflict, U.S. losses have been greater than Iran’s. Javani concluded that the United States would test its strength, use all its power, and ultimately be defeated if it continues its current course.

TankerTrackers.com, a ship-tracking and oil monitoring organization, stated that U.S. sanctions on Iranian ports will not force Tehran to halt oil production. In a post on social media platform X, the group dismissed claims that Iran’s oil storage would soon reach capacity, compelling the country to stop production. According to TankerTrackers, Iran has the capacity to refine all of its produced oil for domestic consumption. The organization noted that during the first term of the Trump administration, Iran reduced its oil production to below two million barrels per day, an amount it could fully process to meet internal demand. The statement, cited by Al Jazeera, challenges prevailing assumptions that sanctions would quickly cripple Iran’s oil sector, suggesting instead that the country’s refining infrastructure provides a buffer against export restrictions.

Iran has denied any involvement in recent drone and missile attacks targeting the United Arab Emirates. According to Iranian state media citing senior military officials, Tehran had no plans to strike the UAE, and the attacks were not launched from Iranian territory. Officials emphasized that Iran played no role in the incident. The denial comes at a time of heightened tension between Iran and the United States over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital waterway for global trade. The United States has deployed additional military forces in the area to secure commercial shipping routes, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned that it will not allow vessels linked to its adversaries to move freely through the strait. The attacks on the UAE and Iran’s subsequent denial have added further complexity to the already volatile situation in the Middle East, where military posturing around the Strait of Hormuz continues to raise regional security concerns.

A South Korean-operated bulk carrier caught fire in the engine room while anchored in the Strait of Hormuz near the United Arab Emirates, according to reports on May 5, 2026. The South Korean Foreign Ministry stated that the cause of the fire will be determined once the vessel is brought to port. All 24 crew members, including 18 foreigners and six South Koreans, were reported safe with no casualties. South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that an explosion occurred aboard the ship while it was anchored in the waters near the UAE. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on his social media platform that Iran had fired at the vessel, but the ship’s operator, HMM, has not confirmed any attack. An HMM employee told Yonhap that it remains unclear whether the explosion resulted from an external assault or an internal malfunction. The vessel is expected to be towed to Dubai in the coming days for damage assessment and a full investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident.

Two officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) have been dismissed for failing to return to work after taking leave and leaving the country. The matter was confirmed on Tuesday morning by CAAB’s public relations officer, Kawsar Mahmud. The dismissed officials are Mohammad Abu Sayeed, Director of Flight Standards and Regulations (Airworthiness and Engineering), and Md. Arif-ur-Rahman, Assistant Director (CNS). Abu Sayeed was temporarily suspended on May 3 and asked to explain within seven days why he should not be permanently dismissed, while Arif-ur-Rahman was permanently dismissed on April 25. According to CAAB sources, Abu Sayeed had applied to join a job in Malaysia in July of the previous year and went on ten days of leave from August 4 to 13, 2025, but did not return afterward. Despite multiple attempts to contact him through official and personal channels, his whereabouts remained unknown. His absence exceeding 60 days without permission was treated as misconduct under CAAB’s 2021 employment regulations, leading to a departmental case and subsequent dismissal decision. Arif-ur-Rahman, who went to the United States on 15 days of leave, also failed to return for about 20 months and was dismissed for prolonged absence and misconduct.

U.S. President Donald Trump has launched 'Operation Freedom'—also referred to as 'Project Freedom'—aimed at countering Iran’s influence and control over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The operation seeks to escort commercial vessels under U.S. protection to test Iran’s blockade capacity. According to U.S. national security analyst Mark Fivel, the narrow waterway has become a chokepoint, and Washington is attempting to expand its influence by breaking Iran’s hold. Analysts say the mission’s name was changed from 'Epic Fury' to 'Operation Freedom' to reassure hesitant allies and frame the campaign as a humanitarian effort. Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs Mark Kimmitt told Al Jazeera that the rebranding signals a strategic shift, emphasizing the resumption of oil and fertilizer exports through the strait as a legitimate goal. Behind the scenes, Pakistan is mediating indirect talks between Iran and the United States. Although Washington’s response to Iran’s 14-point proposal has been lukewarm, Kimmitt believes maintaining dialogue remains essential, especially if both sides focus on ensuring the flow of essential goods through the region.

Iran has claimed that a recent United States military operation in the Strait of Hormuz destroyed civilian, not military, vessels and killed at least five civilians. According to Iranian state media, six boats hit in Monday’s strike were cargo and passenger vessels. A military official told Tasnim News Agency that US forces attacked two small cargo boats traveling from Oman’s Khasab coast toward Iran, calling the action reckless and dangerous. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) had earlier stated that the strike targeted six Iranian fast boats allegedly attempting to disrupt commercial shipping during an operation to secure the waterway. The US said Seahawk and Apache attack helicopters were used under “Operation Freedom” to ensure maritime safety. Iran’s new claim of civilian casualties has heightened regional tensions over the incident. The conflicting accounts from Washington and Tehran have raised uncertainty about the nature of the targeted vessels and the broader implications for security in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a historic victory in West Bengal, winning 206 of the state’s 294 assembly seats and ending the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lost her own Bhabanipur seat to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared in traditional Bengali attire in Delhi, pledging to build a “Sonar Bangla” and calling the 2026 election a triumph of good governance. Analysts cited religious polarization, anti-incumbency, and strategic campaigning as key factors behind the BJP’s success. The party’s focus on administrative failures, local issues, and Bengali cultural symbols helped counter the “outsider” label. Trinamool’s image suffered from corruption scandals, unemployment, and local-level extortion. The Election Commission faced allegations from Trinamool of voter list manipulation, which BJP described as a victory for neutrality. Post-election violence and unrest were reported across the state, prompting deployment of central forces. Discussions have begun over who will become West Bengal’s next chief minister, with several BJP leaders under consideration. The results mark a major political realignment in India, with BJP and its allies also performing strongly in Assam and Puducherry, while new forces rose in Tamil Nadu and Congress regained Kerala.

In the 2026 Indian state elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved sweeping victories in West Bengal and Assam. In West Bengal, the BJP ended Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year Trinamool Congress rule by winning 202 of 294 seats, while Trinamool secured 71. The Congress won 2 seats and the CPI(M) 1. In Assam, the BJP-led NDA returned to power for a third consecutive term, with the BJP alone winning 82 of 126 seats. The NDA also retained control in the union territory of Puducherry. In Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), made a historic debut by winning 105 seats, becoming the single largest party and positioning Vijay as a potential chief minister. The DMK and AIADMK won 58 and 46 seats respectively. In Kerala, the Congress-led UDF regained power after ending a decade of Left Democratic Front rule, securing a majority with Congress winning 63 seats and CPI(M) 26. The results mark a major political shift across several Indian states, reshaping regional power balances and leadership dynamics.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Tamim Iqbal has uncovered a major irregularity in the payment system for cleaners at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. During the Bangladesh–New Zealand third T20 match, he learned that although BCB allocates 650 taka per cleaner per day, the workers receive only 300 taka after multiple intermediaries take cuts. Tamim revealed that BCB employees themselves act as middlemen, diverting funds meant for the cleaners. According to Tamim, cleaning contracts are awarded through tenders, but instead of third-party companies hiring workers directly, BCB staff supply cleaners and retain part of their wages. The contracted company reportedly pays 500 taka per cleaner, but BCB employees keep 200 taka, leaving only 300 taka for the workers. Tamim expressed frustration that even low-paid female cleaners are being exploited by insiders. To address the issue, Tamim ordered that cleaners be paid the full 500 taka in his presence and instructed that future contracts exclude BCB’s own staff from recruitment. He also pledged strict monitoring to prevent further wage theft and ensure transparency in overtime payments.

Global oil markets experienced sharp volatility as Brent crude stabilized at $114 per barrel on Tuesday following a 6 percent surge the previous day. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude traded just below $105. The price spike coincided with escalating tensions between the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route, as a one-month Middle East ceasefire faced uncertainty. According to the US Central Command, American forces repelled an Iranian attack while escorting two US-flagged ships. Simultaneously, reports emerged of drone and missile strikes targeting the Fujairah oil terminal in the United Arab Emirates. The disruptions have rendered the Hormuz Strait nearly impassable, adding a “war premium” to global oil prices. US President Donald Trump warned in an interview that the conflict could persist for two to three more weeks and cautioned Iran against direct attacks on US vessels. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said progress had been made in talks but urged the US and UAE to avoid being trapped again in “quicksand.” Goldman Sachs noted that while global oil inventories remain above crisis levels, the rate of decline is concerning, with reserves potentially dropping from 101 to 98 days of demand by the end of May.