Global crude oil prices increased following reports of a potential peace agreement between Iran and the United States. Early Thursday trading saw US crude futures rise by nearly one dollar per barrel. According to Reuters, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures climbed 80 cents to reach 95.88 dollars per barrel, after hitting an intraday high of 96.33 dollars on Wednesday.

Market analysts attributed the upward trend to optimism surrounding the possible preliminary peace deal between the two countries. However, Verisk Maplecroft’s head of energy and resources, Kaho Yu, cautioned that oil prices and shipping routes are unlikely to normalize until threats of attacks in the Strait of Hormuz are fully removed.

Yu added that despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, the energy market has not yet returned to pre-crisis conditions. Discussions between China and Iran may help ease tensions, but the market remains focused on whether the Strait of Hormuz will reopen. The coming months’ oil supply and tanker movement will indicate whether lasting stability returns to the Middle East.

Japan’s stock market responded positively on Thursday to reports of a possible diplomatic agreement between the United States and Iran. Following the news, the Nikkei 225 index rose more than 4 percent shortly after trading began, reaching 61,937.78 points at 9:31 a.m. local time (GMT 00:31).

Alongside the geopolitical developments, investors were closely monitoring movements in the Japanese yen. Market speculation suggested that the Japanese government might intervene in the currency market to prevent further depreciation of the yen.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, indicates that optimism over potential diplomatic progress between Washington and Tehran has temporarily boosted investor confidence in Japan’s equity market.

Several oil tankers listed under U.S. sanctions have begun entering the Persian Gulf region despite a strict American naval blockade. According to vessel monitoring group TankerTrackers.com, at least two ships managed to breach the U.S. Navy’s perimeter. The group reported on social media platform X that a tanker named ‘Vina/Valley’ (9157478) crossed the blockade boundary on Wednesday. The vessel is known for regularly supplying Iranian liquefied petroleum gas to Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

TankerTrackers.com added that alongside the smaller vessel, a larger Iranian oil tanker also reached the area, though both ships were currently empty. The United States has maintained a tight naval blockade around Iranian ports to pressure Tehran into ending the conflict and returning to negotiations. The arrival of these tankers occurred amid this heightened enforcement.

The report, sourced from Al Jazeera, highlights continued maritime tension in the region as sanctioned Iranian-linked vessels test the limits of U.S. restrictions.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi has strongly condemned what he described as Iran’s 'baseless and unacceptable accusations' against the United Arab Emirates. The condemnation followed a statement from Iran’s foreign ministry alleging that the UAE was collaborating with Iran’s hostile parties.

According to a GCC statement, Al-Budaiwi said the Iranian claims were part of a provocative and tension-escalating strategy targeting regional countries. He further accused Iran of launching brutal attacks on UAE territory and of persistently distorting facts in violation of international norms and laws.

The GCC reaffirmed that its member states stand united with the UAE and fully support all measures taken by the country to safeguard its security, stability, and sovereignty.

Iran’s influential parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Galibaf mocked the United States’ military strategy against Tehran in a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. In his brief message, Galibaf altered the names of declared US military operations targeting Iran, referring to them sarcastically as “Operation Trust Me Bro” and “Operation Foxious.” He wrote that “Operation Trust Me Bro has failed” and added that it was time to “return to routine with Operation Foxious.”

The remarks were reported by Al Jazeera and shared by the online outlet Amar Desh on May 7, 2026. The post reflects Galibaf’s dismissive tone toward Washington’s approach to Iran, using humor to criticize what he described as unsuccessful US military efforts. The comments appeared amid ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington over regional security and military maneuvers.

No official US response or further details about the operations mentioned by Galibaf were included in the report.

German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd is losing about 60 million US dollars per week due to the closure of the Hormuz Strait, according to AFP. The company said the high risk of using this strategic waterway has sharply increased fuel and insurance expenses. Based in Hamburg, Hapag-Lloyd cited threats from Iranian drones and small boats as key factors behind the surge in insurance costs.

The company explained that alternative routes through safe ports or land transport are limited and cannot fully replace the regular maritime routes in the region. Iran has required all vessels to undergo verification by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including sailing near Iranian coasts, providing crew and cargo details, and in some cases making payments.

AFP reported that shipping companies now face a dilemma: either absorb millions in additional costs or risk violating US and EU sanctions by paying Iranian authorities for safe passage.

U.S. President Donald Trump told his supporters that he believes the ongoing war with Iran will end soon. He also indicated that efforts are underway to reach an agreement to resolve the stalemate over the Hormuz Strait blockade and Tehran’s nuclear program. The remarks were made during a phone call with party supporters, according to a Reuters report cited by Al Jazeera.

Trump said the United States’ main objective in the conflict is to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He emphasized that most people understand the reasoning behind U.S. actions and that the situation would be resolved quickly. His comments suggest a dual approach of maintaining pressure while pursuing diplomatic engagement to end hostilities.

The report did not specify any timeline or details of the potential agreement, leaving uncertainty about how soon the conflict might conclude or what form a settlement could take.

Mohammad Kamal, 35, younger brother of alleged Rohingya militant leader Nabi Hossain, was shot dead near the Friendship Hospital adjacent to Camp No. 8 in Balukhali, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Armed Police Battalion (APBn) commander Riaz Uddin Ahmed confirmed the incident, stating that unidentified attackers opened fire on Kamal and fled the scene. Kamal sustained bullet wounds to his chest and head and was declared dead after being taken to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital.

Police officials said the motive behind the attack was not immediately clear but suggested it might be linked to a previous dispute over local dominance. Following the shooting, additional law enforcement personnel were deployed in the area, and operations are underway to identify and apprehend those involved.

Kamal’s wife said he was attacked while returning home by auto-rickshaw after midday prayers, while his cousin claimed that members of an armed group carried out the assault. The body has been sent for autopsy at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has described the killing of his close aide and personal assistant Chandranath Rath in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, as a 'cold-blooded murder'. The incident occurred on Wednesday night, May 6, when assailants on motorcycles stopped Rath’s car in the Daulatala area and opened fire before fleeing. The attack took place within 48 hours of the West Bengal Assembly election results, sparking tension in the area.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, May 7, Adhikari said the attack appeared preplanned, claiming the assailants had conducted reconnaissance before striking. He stated that the state’s Director General of Police, Siddhanath Gupta, assured him of a full investigation. Adhikari urged party workers to remain calm, emphasizing that the BJP would not take the law into its own hands and called for an impartial probe to identify the real culprits.

Adhikari also alleged that BJP workers across the state had been targeted since the election results were announced, citing incidents of shootings and stabbings in Basirhat and Baranagar. He said he had briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national leader Nitin Navin about the situation.

Hezbollah announced that it carried out 17 targeted attacks on Israeli forces that entered southern Lebanon on Wednesday. In a statement, the group said it used drones and rockets to strike Israeli troops and military vehicles in several areas, including Qantara, Biyada, Taybeh, Naqoura, Rishaf, and Aita al-Shaab. Hezbollah also claimed to have targeted specific military equipment, including a drone strike on a troop transport vehicle in Kawzah and an attack on a newly established command center in Qantara.

According to the report, these ongoing exchanges of fire have further intensified the situation in southern Lebanon. The escalation comes amid continuing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, raising concerns about worsening regional instability.

The report cited Al Jazeera as the source of information but did not provide details on casualties or official responses from either side.

The United Nations has warned that Lebanon’s overall situation remains highly unstable despite the enforcement of a ceasefire. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the conflict has not fully stopped, and ongoing attacks continue to affect civilians across the country.

OCHA reported that more than 2,700 people have been killed in Lebanon since March 2, with the number rising daily due to continued assaults. On Wednesday, Israel carried out an airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburb for the first time since the ceasefire took effect on April 17, reportedly killing at least 13 people nationwide.

Analysts cited in the report warned that the situation could deteriorate further, posing a major threat to regional security if violence escalates.

Amnesty International has called for the immediate release of two Gaza flotilla activists, Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila, who were detained by Israeli forces after the Global Sumud Flotilla ship was intercepted in international waters last week. The organization warned that the detainees face a serious risk of human rights violations, including possible torture and other mistreatment while in custody.

Amnesty expressed particular concern for Saif Abu Keshek, a Palestinian-Spanish-Swedish citizen, alleging that he was detained on suspicion of links to a terrorist organization under what the group described as Israel’s discriminatory laws and ongoing repression of Palestinians. The organization urged Israel to ensure the safety and humane treatment of both detainees.

Separately, Israeli human rights group Adalah reported that the Beersheba District Court rejected a petition for the activists’ release and extended their detention until Sunday morning.

A five-year-old girl named Jannat was killed in a tragic road accident in Kamrangirchar, Dhaka, on Wednesday, May 6. The incident occurred in the Sylheti Bazar area when a speeding battery-powered rickshaw struck her while she was playing in front of her home. Locals rushed to rescue the injured child, but she was declared dead upon arrival at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Police confirmed that the body was kept in the hospital morgue and legal procedures were underway before handing it over to the family.

Jannat was the elder daughter of day laborer Mostafa from Lumbabak village in Jamalganj, Sunamganj. Her family had moved to Kamrangirchar seeking a better life. The accident has sparked anger among residents of the densely populated neighborhood, who expressed frustration over the reckless movement of battery rickshaws in narrow lanes. Social media users also voiced concern and demanded stricter control over such unregulated vehicles.

The incident has renewed local calls for enforcement of traffic rules and regulation of battery-powered rickshaws in residential areas.

Police in Mongla, Bagerhat have arrested two men, including a hotel manager, for allegedly recording an objectionable video of a female field research assistant while she was bathing. The incident occurred on the night of May 5, 2026, at Singapore Hotel, where the woman was staying with colleagues for a BRAC Education Development Institute project. She reportedly saw a man filming her through the bathroom ventilator and raised an alarm, prompting the suspect to flee.

Following her complaint, police detained hotel manager Md. Mohsin, 40, and guest Boni Amin, 23, on suspicion of involvement. A case has been filed under sections 8(1) and 8(7) of the Pornography Control Act 2012, and both suspects have been sent to court. Locals alleged that the hotel had long been associated with irregularities and suspicious activities, including previous unproven misconduct claims against the manager.

Mongla police stated that initial evidence supports the complaint and that a thorough investigation is underway. Residents have demanded strict punishment for those found guilty and increased monitoring of local hotels.

Chandranath Rath, the personal assistant to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead on Wednesday night in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. in the Madhyamgram area when Rath was returning by car from Doharia. Eyewitnesses said a group of assailants on motorcycles stopped his vehicle and fired multiple shots at close range, hitting him in the chest.

Rath was rushed to a nearby private hospital where doctors declared him dead. The car’s driver was also shot and later transferred to another private hospital in Madhyamgram due to his critical condition. According to available information, Rath had previously served in the Indian Air Force and, after retirement, became a close aide to Suvendu Adhikari. He had recently been active in election campaigning.

Authorities have not released further details about the attackers or the motive behind the shooting.