Bangladesh’s Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid announced that 12,333,840 animals are available for sacrifice ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. The figure includes 5,695,878 cows and buffaloes, 6,632,307 goats and sheep, and 5,655 other species such as camels and dumba. The announcement was made at a press conference held on Sunday at the Secretariat, attended by State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku.

According to the minister, the national demand for sacrificial animals this year is estimated at 10,106,334, leaving a surplus of 2,227,506 animals. Last year, the total availability was 12,447,337 animals, with 9,136,734 slaughtered, resulting in a surplus of 3,310,000. The minister said the data shows Bangladesh has no shortage of sacrificial animals and can meet national demand without imports.

He added that consistent government policy support and the growth of the livestock sector have made the country self-sufficient, benefiting local farmers through fair prices and contributing to economic strength.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) stated on Saturday that no external power can weaken the determination of the Iranian people. In an official statement, the IRGC emphasized that the Iranian nation will never bow to its enemies and expressed gratitude to citizens for their steadfastness in defending the country against hostile attacks.

The statement highlighted nationwide solidarity gatherings held in support of the government, describing them as a reflection of the Iranian people's insight in recognizing enemies, assessing the current sensitive situation, and understanding their national duties. It further noted that public unity serves as a source of strength for the armed forces, comparing it to the fuel that powers missiles.

The IRGC’s remarks, reported by Press TV, underscore the organization’s focus on internal cohesion and resilience during what it described as a critical and challenging period for the nation.

In southern Afghanistan’s Kandahar region, hundreds of people are turning to self-proclaimed spiritual healer Neda Mohammad Qadri, who claims to cure cancer and thalassemia by blessing water. Qadri, a former cook with no medical or religious training, attracts large crowds daily as patients seek hope amid a collapsing healthcare system. Many, including families of terminally ill patients, report paying him money and livestock despite no medical improvement.

According to the World Health Organization, Afghanistan records over 24,000 new cancer cases and 17,000 deaths annually, though experts believe the real figures are higher due to a lack of hospitals, doctors, and diagnostic facilities. After the Taliban took power in 2021, international aid sharply declined, leaving hospitals like Kandahar’s Mirwais facility short of essential equipment. Border closures with Pakistan have further restricted access to advanced treatment and imported medicines.

Medical experts warn that unregulated spiritual practices and misuse of antibiotics pose serious health risks. They stress that such rituals may offer emotional comfort but cannot replace professional medical care, leaving many Afghans trapped between faith and failing healthcare.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said the government is working to establish an institutional framework for an independent media. He made the remarks on Sunday at a discussion titled “Independent and Responsible Media as the Main Partner in Establishing a Culture of Accountability,” organized by the ministry at the Information Bhaban auditorium in Dhaka to mark World Press Freedom Day.

The minister stated that regulation does not mean control, but rather ensuring a healthy environment where the government acts as a facilitator. He announced plans to form an independent and strong Media Commission based on recommendations from a committee of media experts. Swapan also criticized irregularities in newspaper circulation and television rating systems, calling for accurate data-driven transparency. He emphasized that the government views the media as a partner in nation-building, not an adversary, and pledged legal and professional support for journalists.

The event featured participation from media leaders, academics, and press council representatives, with a rally held earlier in the day as part of the observance.

Jordan carried out airstrikes in southern Syria early Sunday, targeting suspected bases and warehouses used for drug and arms smuggling. The Jordanian Armed Forces said the operation aimed to curb illegal trafficking activities along the border. According to the state news agency Petra, the targeted sites were identified through intelligence and destroyed to ensure national security amid rising smuggling attempts.

Syrian state media Al-Ikhbariya reported that the strikes hit a facility in Shahba village in Suwayda province, believed to store weapons and narcotics. Additional attacks were observed near a former security branch base, where drone and ambulance movements were seen. Analysts noted that smuggling networks have remained active along the Syria-Jordan border for years, prompting Jordan to conduct similar operations in the past.

The incident comes amid Syria’s ongoing political transition following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024 and the formation of an interim government led by Ahmad al-Sharar in early 2025, which is seeking to reintegrate the country internationally.

Iran has submitted a 14-point proposal aimed at ending the ongoing war, calling for all related issues to be resolved within 30 days. The plan prioritizes a permanent end to hostilities over extending temporary ceasefires. It was presented by Tehran as a framework for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.

According to the proposal, key elements include mutual non-aggression guarantees, withdrawal of US forces from areas near Iran, lifting of naval blockades, release of seized assets, removal of sanctions, and cessation of fighting across all fronts including Lebanon. The plan also calls for establishing a new arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz.

A report by Axios stated that the proposal sets a one-month deadline to reach an agreement on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the US naval blockade. The initiative reflects Iran’s push for a comprehensive resolution rather than temporary measures.

The central executive committee of Jubo Dal has suspended the Feni municipal committee and dissolved all its ward committees. The decision was announced on Sunday through a press release signed by assistant office secretary Minhajul Islam Bhuiyan. The release stated that Enamul Haque Sujon, general secretary of Ward No. 4, was expelled from the party for concealing information while taking a party position. All activities of the current municipal committee have been halted until further notice.

The move follows controversy over the partial committee of Ward No. 4, announced on April 30, which included Sujon, an accused in a case related to an attack on Khaleda Zia’s motorcade. In protest, six of the eight committee members resigned simultaneously. Following the dispute, municipal Jubo Dal president Zahid Hossain Bablu and general secretary Haidar Ali Rasel Patwari were issued show-cause notices for approving the controversial committee.

The central leadership, including Jubo Dal president Abdul Monayem Munna and general secretary Mohammad Nurul Islam Noyon, have already implemented the decision, directing the local leaders to appear before them within 24 hours to explain their actions.

Pakistan’s plans to expand its mineral extraction industry have come under threat from renewed separatist violence in Balochistan. Following a $1.3 billion U.S. investment announcement in the province’s gold and copper reserves, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) launched coordinated attacks on January 31, killing at least 58 people across 12 areas. The violence has raised concerns over the safety of foreign investments, including the lucrative Reko Diq mining project, which holds vast untapped copper and gold deposits.

Analysts and officials cited in the report describe the BLA as a growing force with local support, capable of mounting large-scale operations. The insurgency, rooted in decades of resentment over resource control and political marginalization, has intensified alongside government crackdowns. Human rights groups say these measures have deepened local anger. The conflict has also been complicated by instability in neighboring Iran, which officials fear could allow insurgents greater mobility and access to weapons.

Experts warn that sustained unrest could jeopardize U.S.-Pakistan mining ventures and stall foreign projects indefinitely if violence continues to escalate.

Iranian authorities plan to transform the war-damaged Isfahan University of Technology into a war museum following extensive destruction caused by United States and Israeli attacks in central Iran. The initiative aims to present the impact of the assaults to the public and preserve the site as a historical record of what officials describe as scientific persecution.

University head Jafarollah Kalantari stated that the damaged area within the campus will be preserved as a war museum. According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Kalantari also confirmed that a new building and advanced equipment will be provided for the university at a separate location. Preliminary assessments estimate infrastructure losses at around 11 million US dollars.

Officials reported that since the conflict began on February 28, more than 30 universities across Iran, including in Tehran, have been damaged by US and Israeli strikes. Residential and other civilian areas have also been targeted, according to the same sources.

Authorities in Lakshmipur exhumed the body of Shahadat Hossain Porash, a former vice president of the district Krishak Dal, nearly 14 months after his burial. The exhumation took place on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the family graveyard in Terbeki area under Lakshmipur municipality, following a court order for post-mortem examination related to an ongoing case. Executive Magistrate Hasan Muhammad Nahid Sheikh Suman and medical officer Arman Hossain were present during the process.

According to officials, Porash had died on March 7, 2025, in the Mostannagar area of Jorarganj, Chattogram, and was buried the next day without an autopsy. His wife, Shefali Begum Shepu, later filed a criminal complaint on April 9, 2025, at the Chattogram Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, alleging that her husband had been murdered. The court subsequently ordered the exhumation for forensic examination.

Shefali Begum claimed that Porash, who had recently returned from Oman, was carrying about 1 million taka to buy an excavator when he went missing and was later reported dead in a road accident. She alleged that the money was misappropriated and accused a man named Mohon of involvement in the killing.

Iran has executed a man convicted of killing a security officer during the 2022 nationwide protests. The execution took place after the country’s Supreme Court upheld the death sentence in late 2025. The convicted individual, identified as Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, was found guilty of involvement in the killing of security officer Abbas Fatemiyeh during the unrest that followed the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.

According to Iran’s judiciary-affiliated news agency Mizan, Abdollahzadeh had confessed to attacking the officer. However, the human rights organization HRANA, citing a source, alleged that the confession was extracted under torture. The protests in 2022 had spread across Iran after Amini’s death, drawing widespread attention and leading to numerous arrests and trials.

The report did not specify the exact date or location of the execution, and no official comment was included regarding the allegations of forced confession.

A controversy erupted in Feni after Enamul Haque Sujon, the prime accused in the case over the 2017 attack on former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s motorcade, was appointed general secretary of the Ward 4 Jubo Dal committee. Following the announcement of the eight-member partial committee on April 30, six of its members resigned in protest, leaving only the president Mostafa Kamal Badol and Sujon in their positions.

The resigning members include senior vice president Gazi Abdul Kader Nayon, vice president Md Sabuj, joint general secretary Md Millat Hossain, organizational secretary Md Zahid, publicity secretary Saddam Hossain Rubel, and office secretary Dalim Majumdar. Party sources confirmed that the committee was approved by Feni municipal Jubo Dal president Zahid Hossain Bablu and general secretary Haydar Ali Rasel Patowary.

Sujon claimed he was falsely implicated in the case for political reasons, while local Jubo Dal leaders defended him as a dedicated activist. The municipal Jubo Dal leadership stated they were unaware of his legal status and would review the matter before taking further organizational action.

At least three commercial vessels have been hijacked off the coast of Somalia in the past week, reviving fears of piracy in waters once considered secure. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has raised the region’s security risk to “substantial” and advised ships to proceed with caution. The hijackings include the fishing vessel Alkhari-2 on April 20, the oil tanker Honor-25 on April 21 carrying 16,000 barrels of oil with 17 crew from several Asian countries, and the cargo ship Sword on April 26, which remains under pirate control.

Analysts attribute the resurgence to reduced anti-piracy patrols as naval forces are redeployed to address the Iran–US conflict and Houthi unrest in the Red Sea. Rising global oil prices, now exceeding $110 per barrel due to the ongoing wars, have made oil tankers more attractive targets for pirates.

Somalia’s waters were once the world’s most dangerous, causing billions in global economic losses before NATO and EU operations curbed piracy. Experts now warn that those gains are at risk of reversal.

North Korea on Sunday dismissed US allegations that it engages in cybercrime to earn illegal income, calling the claims baseless slander. Pyongyang’s foreign ministry, through a statement published by state news agency KCNA, accused Washington of spreading false information and fabricating cyber threats to damage the country’s image for political purposes.

The United States has long accused North Korea of expanding its cyberwarfare program, allegedly stealing billions of dollars in virtual assets over recent years. The US Department of Justice recently sentenced two American citizens for helping North Koreans secure remote IT jobs at US companies, generating illicit funds for Pyongyang’s weapons programs. Investigations found that more than a hundred American firms, including Fortune 500 companies and a defense contractor, were targeted.

According to UN findings, North Korean cyberattacks since 2017 have stolen over $3 billion in cryptocurrency, reportedly used to finance weapons development. Cybersecurity analysts also reported attempted attacks on widely used software packages linked to North Korean hackers.

The organization 'National Disabled Citizens Power' was launched on Saturday at the Jatiya Press Club’s Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall in Dhaka, with the support of the National Citizens Party (NCP). The group aims to establish the constitutional, social, economic, and political rights of persons with disabilities and to build a discrimination-free, inclusive, and dignified Bangladesh. Representatives from political, social, and civic organizations, along with persons with disabilities, attended the event.

Speakers at the discussion emphasized ensuring active participation of persons with disabilities in building a new Bangladesh inspired by the spirit of the July uprising. The proposed committee was announced, led by Ifthekhar Mahmud as convener and Md. Saiful Haque as joint convener. The organization outlined objectives including political empowerment, representation in policymaking, awareness building, and advocacy for accessible infrastructure and services.

An eleven-point demand was presented for inclusion in the upcoming national budget, calling for increased disability allowances, low-interest loans for entrepreneurs, tax exemptions, employment quotas, and reserved parliamentary seats for disabled citizens. The event concluded with a call for unity among all persons with disabilities to join rights-based political and social movements.