South Indian film star Thalapathy Vijay is on the verge of making political history in Tamil Nadu, as strong indications suggest he will become the state’s next Chief Minister with coalition support. In last month’s assembly election, his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), contested for the first time and won 108 of 234 seats, ending the 62-year dominance of the DMK and AIADMK. However, lacking the 118-seat majority required to form a government, a tense political standoff followed.

Governor R. V. Arlekar insisted that Vijay must prove his majority before being invited to form the government. After several rounds of talks, the Congress broke ties with the DMK and offered support for five seats, on the condition that TVK would not ally with communal parties like the BJP. TVK then secured backing from Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), CPI(M), and CPI, bringing the coalition’s total to exactly 118 seats.

According to reports, each coalition partner may receive representation in the new cabinet. Supporters gathered outside Vijay’s Chennai residence on Friday evening, chanting in celebration as the political uncertainty appeared to settle.

Several days of continuous rainfall in Rampal upazila of Bagerhat have caused harvested paddy left in the fields to sprout prematurely. Farmers are facing severe losses as the unseasonal rain has soaked the crops, making it difficult to dry and store them properly. Many are worried they will not recover their production costs, with some unable to bring their harvest home before it began to germinate.

Local farmers explained that the rain began suddenly at the end of the harvesting season, leaving them no time to collect their crops. In many areas, cut paddy remains submerged under water, and seedlings are emerging from the ears. Some farmers are attempting to dry the wet paddy beside roads, but threshing remains impossible until it fully dries. Labor shortages have further delayed harvesting, worsening the damage.

Rampal’s agriculture officer, Md. Insad Ibne Amin, advised farmers to collect and store their paddy in dry places and said that a list of affected farmers is being prepared for possible assistance. Farmers have urged the government to ensure emergency financial support to overcome the crisis.

President Md. Shahabuddin is scheduled to travel to the United Kingdom on Saturday for a medical check-up. According to the President’s Press Wing, the visit follows medical advice for a follow-up examination after a previous surgery. The health tests will be conducted at a specialized hospital in Cambridge. The President will depart from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a commercial flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines bound for London.

He will be accompanied by his wife Dr. Rebecca Sultana, family members, his physician, and officials from Bangabhaban. The President is expected to return to Bangladesh on May 18 on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight after completing his medical examinations.

The report also notes that President Shahabuddin underwent cardiac bypass surgery in Singapore on October 18, 2023, which this visit is intended to follow up on.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan stated that education will serve as the bridge between China and Bangladesh. He said the goal is to further strengthen the connection between the two nations, with education as its core element. The minister made these remarks on Friday at a roundtable titled ‘China-Bangladesh Round Table on Governance Experience Exchange,’ organized by the Center for China Studies (CCS) at a hotel in Dhaka.

He highlighted that Bangladesh and China share a long-standing relationship, which was emphasized by late President Ziaur Rahman. According to the minister, this relationship will play a vital role in shaping the future of Bangladesh, particularly in improving the education sector where China can contribute significantly. He added that Bangladesh, being a densely populated country, must transform its population into a skilled human resource.

The minister stressed the importance of focusing on technical education and enhancing joint cooperation with China in education and technical sectors to develop globally competent human resources.

Former Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Tazul Islam, stated that Islamic scholars and Muslims are the true bearers and protectors of Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty. He made this remark on Friday while speaking at a discussion organized by Shapla Smriti Sangsad to commemorate and evaluate the May 5 massacre.

During his speech, Tazul Islam argued that the May 5 killings were not intended to suppress the rise of Islam but were instead an attempt by what he called a fascist government to remove faith from the nation’s culture. He said the goal was to create an environment where people would fear expressing their religious identity, such as wearing caps or keeping beards.

He further warned that if Muslims do not take an active role in protecting their beliefs and values, the country may face repeated confrontations similar to the Shapla Chattar incident.

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.