The United Arab Emirates has announced an agreement to purchase 20 C-390 military cargo aircraft from Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. The deal was signed on Monday in Abu Dhabi during the ‘Make it in the Emirates 2026’ platform. According to Reuters, the UAE is the first Middle Eastern country to select this versatile military transport aircraft. The initial phase includes confirmed delivery of 10 aircraft, with an option to acquire 10 more later. The contract, valued at around 1 billion US dollars, marks a major milestone for Embraer.

Bosco da Costa Junior, head of Embraer’s defense and security unit, described the Middle East as a strategic region for the company and expressed optimism that the deal would open new opportunities for defense equipment sales in the area. The UAE currently operates Lockheed Martin’s C-130 and Boeing’s C-17 aircraft for air cargo transport.

Under the agreement, local Emirati firms will collaborate with Embraer on maintenance and training, enhancing the UAE’s defense capabilities and technical capacity.

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) authorities have canceled the dormitory seat of a student accused of physically and verbally harassing another resident. The decision was announced on Monday, May 4, through a notice signed by Professor Dr. Ismat Ara, provost of Fatema-tuz-Zahra Hall. The accused, Razia Parvin, a final-year master's student in the Department of Social Work, was residing in room 107, while the complainant, Nosheen Tabassum Niha, lived in room 104.

According to hall sources, several students had previously reported similar incidents involving Razia Parvin. In response, 80 students submitted a signed petition to the hall provost demanding a proper investigation. A meeting was held on May 4 with hall residents, during which both sides presented their statements. Based on the investigation and available evidence, the hall authorities decided to cancel Razia Parvin’s seat.

Assistant Provost Husne Ara Chowdhury confirmed that the decision followed a thorough review of testimonies and evidence collected from all parties involved.

State Minister for Social Welfare and Member of Parliament for Natore-1, Farzana Sharmin Putul, has intervened following media reports alleging irregularities in the construction of a mini stadium in Bagatipara upazila, Natore. The project, costing around Tk 9 crore, came under scrutiny after reports of substandard materials, unscheduled work, and poor supervision. During her visit, the minister ordered a 24-hour suspension of construction and announced that the contract agreement would be reviewed. She warned that proven irregularities would lead to strict action, including possible replacement of the contractor.

Farzana Sharmin Putul criticized the local administration for not taking timely action despite public complaints. She emphasized that development must be transparent and that citizens have the right to know how public funds are used. The minister also pledged to raise the issue at higher levels of government.

Local residents welcomed the minister’s swift response, expressing hope that this would mark the beginning of effective measures against long-standing irregularities and ensure quality and transparency in the project.

An Israeli security official has said that the growing tension between Israel and Iran is serving the interests of groups seeking a return to conflict. The statement, reported by the Israel Broadcasting Corporation, suggested that the current situation creates favorable conditions for those interested in renewed military action against Iran, including within Israel itself.

According to reports from Israel’s Channel 12 and the newspaper Israel Hayom, Israeli assessments indicate that Iran currently has no intention of launching a direct attack. Political analyses also suggest that U.S. President Donald Trump is not inclined to start a new war against Iran. Despite this, Israel’s military has adopted a cautious stance, keeping its air defense and air force on high alert against possible surprise attacks.

The report added that Ben Gurion International Airport has been placed on alert, with preparations made to close Israeli airspace if necessary. Military sources said potential targets inside Iran have been identified, including energy facilities and civilian infrastructure.

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has not formally conceded defeat in the recently concluded state election, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with the help of the Election Commission, took away around 100 seats from her party. She and Abhishek Banerjee are expected to hold a press conference in Kolkata’s Kalighat to explain how the party was allegedly defeated. Despite her claims, the BJP is set to form its first government in the state with more than a two-thirds majority.

Analyses of the results suggest several factors behind Trinamool’s loss after 15 years in power. These include erosion of female voter support due to failures on women’s safety, large-scale voter list revisions that removed over nine million names, and widespread allegations of corruption and administrative inefficiency. The party also faced setbacks from Hindu-Muslim polarization, with BJP gaining from consolidated Hindu votes.

Observers note that the Election Commission’s control over the administration and deployment of over 240,000 central security personnel limited Trinamool’s traditional advantage as the ruling party, contributing further to its electoral defeat.

Police in Kaukhali upazila of Pirojpur district arrested a woman identified as Marjina, 52, during a special anti-drug operation on Monday night, May 4. The raid took place around 10 p.m. in the Aspaddi College Road area under Sadar Union. The operation was conducted under the direction of Officer-in-Charge Md. Yakub Hossain and led by Sub-Inspector Zafar Iqbal with a team of police officers, including female personnel.

According to police sources, the arrest followed a tip-off, and Marjina was caught red-handed with yaba tablets behind her residence, which belonged to her late husband, Faruk Hossain. The police stated that a case under the Narcotics Control Act is being prepared against her, and she will be sent to court. Authorities also mentioned that her son, Rezaul Karim Gazi, has multiple drug-related cases filed against him.

The operation is part of ongoing anti-drug efforts in the region, aiming to curb narcotics trafficking and related crimes in Pirojpur district.

A 35-year-old farmer named Rana Mia died by suicide in Boro Mohammadpur village of Kolkolia Union under Jagannathpur upazila in Sunamganj on Monday evening. According to police and family sources, Rana returned home after a day of harvesting paddy in the haor area. After dinner, he went to rest in his bedroom, where he later hanged himself from a ceiling fan using a towel. Family members discovered the incident and alerted neighbors, who then informed the police.

Police from Jagannathpur station arrived at the scene, prepared an inquest report, and initiated the process to send the body to Sunamganj Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy. Officer-in-Charge Shafiqul Islam said the case initially appears to be a suicide. Authorities are investigating the actual cause of death and preparing to file an unnatural death case.

The investigation aims to determine the underlying reasons behind the incident, as police continue their inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the farmer’s death.

Japan has received its first shipment of crude oil from Russia since the outbreak of the Iran war, according to multiple media reports. The tanker arrived Monday at the Imabari coast carrying crude produced under the Sakhalin-2 project. Japanese outlets said the cargo was received by Taiyo Oil, though the company has not officially confirmed the delivery. The closure of the Hormuz Strait due to the ongoing Iran conflict has severely disrupted global oil supply.

Japan, which relies on the Middle East for about 95 percent of its oil imports, has been seeking alternative sources since the strait’s closure following the start of the Iran war on February 28. The Sakhalin-2 project remains outside international sanctions imposed on Moscow after the 2022 Ukraine invasion, allowing Japan to import oil from it without restrictions.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during her visit to Australia, said the global oil crisis is having a major impact on the Asia-Pacific region and announced that Japan and Australia will take joint emergency measures to ensure stable energy supply.

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.