A projectile struck an oil tanker near the coast of the United Arab Emirates, according to a British maritime agency on Monday. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the incident occurred 78 nautical miles north of Fujairah. The crew members were confirmed safe, and authorities have launched an investigation. UKMTO urged all vessels in the area to remain cautious following the attack.

At the same time, the United States announced plans to assist ships navigating the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. The move comes amid ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, despite a ceasefire in the Middle East conflict that took effect on April 8. Iran continues to maintain strict control over the strategic waterway, while the US has imposed a naval blockade on Tehran.

The US Central Command said the operation will involve guided missile destroyers, over 100 aircraft, unmanned vehicles, and 15,000 troops. Maritime intelligence firm AXSMarine reported that as of April 29, more than 900 commercial vessels were present in the Gulf region, down from over 1,100 before the conflict began.

A 22-year-old man named Hasan Shikdar from Shibchar upazila in Madaripur district attempted suicide by climbing a 460-foot electric tower on the night of May 3, 2026, following the breakup of his romantic relationship. He threatened to jump unless his former partner agreed to reconcile and come to the site. Police, fire service personnel, rural electricity staff, and his family members rushed to the scene after being alerted.

Hasan’s friend also arrived and climbed the tower to persuade him to come down. After about four and a half hours of negotiation, Hasan was safely brought down around 11 p.m. under the supervision of the rescue team. Police then took him into custody for protection and later handed him over to his family. The incident drew a large crowd of onlookers near the tower.

According to the Shibchar Fire Service Station Officer, the rescue operation was conducted through continuous communication and persuasion until Hasan agreed to descend safely.

The High Court has temporarily suspended bench officer Zakir Hossain following allegations of bail forgery involving Sahedul Islam, the main accused in the Kuki-Chin apparel manufacturing case. The decision became known on Monday morning. Attorney General brought the matter to the Chief Justice’s attention on April 29, after which the Chief Justice ordered a 48-hour investigation into the incident.

According to investigation sources, about seven months earlier, Sahedul Islam, owner of Ringvo Apparels in Chattogram, applied for bail in the High Court. On September 16, 2025, the case was heard by a bench comprising Justice Mostafa Zaman Islam and Justice Abdullah Yusuf Sumon. During the hearing, a different case’s documents were presented, misleading the court into granting bail. The forgery occurred later when the bail order’s first page was altered to include details of the Kuki-Chin apparel seizure case, leading prison authorities to release Sahedul based on the falsified order.

The original case involved the seizure of 20,300 garments allegedly made for the KNF from Ringvo Apparels’ warehouse in Bayezid Bostami, Chattogram, on May 17, 2025. The garments were reportedly ordered for about two crore taka, and a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act was filed against Sahedul and two others.

A Supreme Court lawyer has filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the legality of actions taken during the tenure of the interim government led by Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The petition was submitted on Monday by lawyer Mohammad Mohsin Rashid to the relevant branch of the court.

The writ seeks a directive for the government to form a commission to investigate whether there are any corruption allegations against Chief Adviser Dr. Yunus. It also questions the validity of various decisions, laws, reform commissions, and both domestic and international agreements made during the interim government’s tenure. The Cabinet Secretary, Law Secretary, and other relevant officials have been named as respondents in the petition.

According to the petitioner, he plans to present the petition for hearing before the High Court later in the day. The outcome of the hearing will determine whether the court issues any directives regarding the legality of the interim government’s actions.

Two people were killed and two others injured in a collision between a truck and a pickup van on the Dhaka-Tangail Jamuna Bridge Highway early Monday morning. The accident occurred around 5:15 a.m. in the Rabna Bypass area of Tangail district. The identities of the victims were not immediately known.

According to the in-charge of the Elenga Highway Police Outpost, the Jamuna Bridge-bound truck collided with a pickup van while overtaking on the Rabna flyover. Two people died on the spot, and two others sustained injuries. The deceased were taken to the morgue of Tangail General Hospital, while the injured were admitted for treatment.

Police said the bodies would be handed over to the families after completing legal procedures.

Former US naval officer and Kilwynn Group chairman Harlan Ullman has warned that Donald Trump’s announced ‘Project Freedom’ to resolve the Hormuz Strait crisis could lead to a major disaster if not carefully planned. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Ullman said the mission carries extremely high risks, particularly if Iran decides to resist the operation.

He noted that Iran possesses a large number of drones and small warships, which could make the mission highly challenging. Ullman cautioned that any attack on a US warship would leave Washington with no choice but to retaliate. He expressed hope that Trump’s declaration was part of a diplomatic initiative coordinated with Iran and mediators such as Pakistan, Oman, or Saudi Arabia.

According to Ullman, the only sustainable solution lies in reopening the Hormuz Strait and initiating long-term diplomatic talks on Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He emphasized that the crisis should be resolved through negotiation rather than military escalation to protect the global economic system.

The United Arab Emirates has lifted its temporary ban on all air traffic after assessing improved security conditions. The General Civil Aviation Authority announced on Saturday that the country’s airspace has returned to normal operations. The decision followed coordination with relevant authorities to evaluate operational and safety conditions, though officials said they would continue monitoring the situation.

The UAE had imposed the ban after the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate with attacks on US bases across the Middle East. The conflict led several Gulf countries, including Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait, to close their airspace partially or completely. Major UAE airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, among the busiest international hubs, had been affected since late February.

According to aviation data firm Cirium, more than 11,000 flights to and from the region were canceled in the early days of the conflict. The lifting of restrictions is expected to ease disruptions for international travelers and airlines operating between Europe and Asia.

Israeli military attacks have continued across southern Lebanon, with multiple areas hit by airstrikes and shelling. Local sources reported deadly assaults in several locations, including Arab Salim and Srifa near Tyre, where a medical center was struck, injuring at least four paramedics. Heavy exchanges of fire were also reported between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces near Bint Jbeil, while nearby Haris and surrounding regions faced intense bombardment.

In the southwestern Chama area, Israeli forces reportedly expanded destructive operations, with allegations of civilian homes and historical sites being demolished in Biyyada. Residents described constant aerial activity involving warplanes and drones, heightening fear across the region. Despite hopes for a ceasefire, military tension in southern Lebanon has sharply escalated.

According to the Lebanese government, more than 40 people have been killed in just two days, pushing the crisis to a severe level.

Iran has executed three men accused of working for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad and inciting violence during anti-government protests in Mashhad. The executions were carried out following allegations that the men were involved in violent acts during demonstrations in the northeastern city earlier this year. The semi-official Fars News Agency identified the executed individuals as Mehdi Rasouli, Mohammadreza Miri, and Ebrahim Doulatabadi.

According to the report, Rasouli and Miri were described as linked to Mossad and accused of participating in the killing of security officer Hamidreza Yousefnejad. They were also charged with destroying public property, looting, using Molotov cocktails, and committing crimes against national security. Doulatabadi was accused of leading riots in Mashhad’s Tabarsi area and organizing 250 to 300 armed rioters.

Authorities claimed that several security personnel were killed in the clashes, and Doulatabadi was held responsible for damage to a bank, a Basij military base, and other public and private properties.

A rice trader named Abdul Haque was seriously injured and robbed of about two lakh taka by masked assailants in the Moinpur area of Chhatak upazila, Sunamganj. The incident occurred between 10 and 11 p.m. on Sunday near the old hospital and bridge area of Moinpur. Abdul Haque, son of Azhar Ali from Katashala village under Dolar Bazar Union, was returning home on a motorcycle with business money when the attackers ambushed him.

The assailants used sharp local weapons to attack him, leaving him critically wounded before fleeing with the cash. Locals rescued the injured trader and provided initial treatment before transferring him to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital as his condition worsened. Residents expressed concern over the security situation in the area following the attack.

Police from the Jahidpur outpost visited the scene, and Chhatak Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mizanur Rahman stated that operations are ongoing to identify and arrest those involved.

Muslim voters play a central role in West Bengal’s electoral dynamics, accounting for about 27 percent of the state’s population. Their presence is particularly strong in politically decisive districts such as Murshidabad, Malda, North Dinajpur, and parts of South Bengal. According to BBC correspondent Soutik Biswas, Muslim populations exceed 30 percent in around 88 of the state’s 294 constituencies, making their votes crucial in determining electoral outcomes.

The 2021 election underscored this influence when the Trinamool Congress won 75 of 85 Muslim-majority seats, signaling strong consolidation behind Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. For the Bharatiya Janata Party, gaining power in Bengal depends on dividing or weakening this voter bloc while uniting Hindu votes. Biswas noted that issues such as “infiltration,” border districts, and demographic change featured prominently in BJP’s campaign.

The current election has become more contentious, with critics alleging that a controversial voter list revision disproportionately affected Muslim voters in several districts, raising concerns about fairness and representation.

Inter Milan secured the Italian Serie A championship with three matches left in the season after defeating Parma 2-0 at San Siro. The victory confirmed Inter’s 21st league title, as they needed only one point following Napoli’s goalless draw in the previous round. Marcus Thuram opened the scoring just before halftime, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan doubled the lead in the 80th minute. Returning from injury, Lautaro Martínez assisted the second goal, marking his comeback.

This is Inter’s second league title in three years, placing them second in the all-time Serie A winners list behind Juventus, who have 36 titles. The win also helped the club recover from the disappointment of their Champions League exit earlier in the season.

Inter now has the chance to complete a domestic double, as they are set to face Lazio in the Coppa Italia final on May 13. The club last achieved both league and cup victories in the same season in 2011.

The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran is reshaping global energy dynamics, forcing countries to reconsider their dependence on unstable regions for fuel supply. The disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has already caused significant changes in global markets, with energy trade patterns shifting rapidly.

Amid the turmoil, US energy exports have reached record highs, while the United Arab Emirates has withdrawn from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), effective May 1. Analysts view this as a major turning point for the global oil market. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has described the situation as the largest global energy security challenge in history.

Experts suggest that the ongoing instability in the Strait of Hormuz, combined with OPEC’s fragmentation and the search for alternative supply routes, could permanently alter the global energy order.

Iran’s health sector is facing a severe crisis as recent war and sanctions have sharply disrupted the country’s medical supply chain. Grigor Simonyan, head of the Iran mission of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), said that the conflict has caused major interruptions in supply systems, leading to a significant rise in medicine prices. Locally produced medical equipment had previously met much of the demand, but the war has damaged the entire supply chain, increasing pressure on the system and driving up costs.

Simonyan added that the number of patients has risen notably in recent weeks, particularly after a ceasefire announcement, as uncertainty has prompted more people to seek treatment. Iranian officials confirmed that prices of some medicines have doubled, while others have increased up to tenfold due to shortages of essential materials and raw inputs.

Long-standing U.S. sanctions, recent military attacks damaging major pharmaceutical producers, and port blockades have further complicated the situation. Government sources said prices of about 20 percent of all medicines have already changed, raising serious concern among ordinary citizens.

Real Madrid extended the La Liga title race by defeating Espanyol 2–0 away on May 4, 2026. After a goalless first half, Vinicius Junior scored twice in the second half to secure a vital win for Carlo Ancelotti’s team. With 34 matches played, Real now have 77 points, maintaining an 11-point gap behind Barcelona, who sit on 88. The result postponed Barcelona’s potential title celebration by at least another week.

Barcelona’s previous victory over Osasuna had put pressure on Real Madrid, as a draw or loss in this match would have confirmed Barcelona as champions. However, Real’s win kept their slim hopes alive. The upcoming El Clasico on May 10 is now expected to play a decisive role in determining the league title, with Barcelona needing only a draw to clinch their 29th championship.

Espanyol’s defeat ended their faint hopes of qualifying for European competition. Despite a strong start to the season, they remain winless in 2026, recording six draws and ten losses in 16 matches.