US Senator Bernie Sanders has called for an immediate end to the ongoing war with Iran, criticizing President Donald Trump’s military actions. In a social media post on May 9, 2026, Sanders said that since Trump launched the military operation against Iran, fuel prices have surged sharply, putting financial pressure on American families.

Sanders stated that gas prices had risen from $2.98 to $4.55 per gallon since the start of the conflict, making it increasingly difficult for working families to afford basic expenses. He argued that instead of spending billions of dollars on what he described as an unconstitutional war, the United States should invest in meeting the needs of its own citizens.

The senator’s remarks, reported by Middle East Eye, reflect growing concern over the economic and social impact of the Iran conflict and its effect on domestic fuel prices.

Residents of several areas adjacent to the Shishu Matri Shastho Institute (Matuail Medical) under Ward 65 of Dhaka South City Corporation blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway on Saturday morning, May 9, 2026, protesting persistent waterlogging. The blockade began around 10 a.m. at the Matuail Medical bus stand, causing severe traffic congestion on both sides of the highway.

Police officers present at the scene said they had recently arrived and that the officer-in-charge was trying to resolve the issue through discussions with the residents. The protesters demanded that the Member of Parliament for Dhaka-5 and representatives of the South City Corporation visit the area before they would lift the blockade.

Residents complained that areas including Shahidbagh and Nurbagh in Ward 65 remain submerged under water throughout the year and called for a permanent solution to the problem.

A senior Iranian official has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of launching a psychological warfare campaign aimed at creating divisions among Iran’s leadership. Hassan Rasouli, a member of Iran’s Reformist Supreme Council for Policymaking, made the remarks in an interview with the state news agency IRNA, according to a report published on May 9, 2026.

Rasouli said that the United States and Israeli forces sought to achieve victory without firing a single shot by spreading discord and disunity among Iranian officials. However, he asserted that Tehran has presented to the world an image of a coherent, united, and defense-ready nation, preventing aggressors from achieving any of their intended goals.

The comments were reported by Al Jazeera and reflect Iran’s official stance that external efforts to destabilize its political leadership have not succeeded.

Police in Moulvibazar conducted a special operation on Friday night, seizing a large quantity of Indian goods brought into Bangladesh illegally. Acting on a tip-off, officers from Moulvibazar Model Police Station intercepted a pickup van around 11:30 p.m. on the Kulaura Road in the Islambur area. The vehicle, reportedly transporting goods from Jaintapur in Sylhet, was carrying Indian-made lozenges and various cosmetic items hidden beneath chicken cages. The total value of the seized items is estimated at around Tk 3 million.

According to the police, the goods were intended to be booked at a courier service in Moulvibazar town. The driver of the pickup van was detained following the seizure. Authorities are preparing a case over allegations of smuggling and customs evasion involving the illegal import of Indian products.

The police operation highlights ongoing efforts to curb cross-border smuggling and enforce customs regulations in the region.

SpaceXAI has introduced Grok Voice mode for Apple CarPlay, enabling users to interact with the Grok chatbot directly from their vehicle dashboards using voice commands. The new feature allows handsfree questions and requests through CarPlay, expanding Grok’s accessibility beyond Tesla vehicles, where it is already built-in. Previously, the Grok iPhone app displayed a placeholder in CarPlay indicating that handsfree support would arrive soon.

Apple began allowing third-party voice-driven conversational apps to integrate with CarPlay in iOS 26.4, but developers must add support and obtain a special entitlement from Apple. The company requires these apps to use its voice control template, which displays a voice interface and allows up to four action buttons. Apple also mandates that chatbot apps avoid showing text or imagery in response to user queries.

Grok Voice mode joins other conversational AI integrations such as ChatGPT and Perplexity, which became available on CarPlay earlier this year, marking a growing trend of voice-based AI assistants in vehicle infotainment systems.

Israeli forces carried out extensive arrest operations and settlers launched several attacks on Palestinians across the West Bank on Friday night, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. The incidents occurred in multiple towns including Beit Fajjar, Batir, Silat ad-Dhahr, Khirbet Shuweika, and Tuqu, with reports of injuries and detentions.

In Beit Fajjar, south of Bethlehem, settlers attacked a Palestinian man on his own land and seized his mobile phone. Israeli forces detained four Palestinians near a railway line in Batir, west of Bethlehem. In Silat ad-Dhahr, northeast of Ramallah, settlers clashed with local residents following an assault. In Khirbet Shuweika, south of Hebron, settlers injured a Palestinian man and his child with sharp weapons, causing serious head wounds that required hospitalization. Israeli forces also raided Tuqu, southeast of Bethlehem, firing tear gas and stun grenades at worshippers leaving a mosque and detaining several inside.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights the continuation of Israeli military and settler operations in the occupied West Bank, resulting in injuries, arrests, and heightened tensions in several Palestinian communities.

The United States military carried out another strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Friday, alleging involvement in drug trafficking. According to reports, two people were killed and one survivor was rescued. The U.S. Southern Command (Southcom) confirmed the incident, noting that the survivor’s condition was not disclosed and that the U.S. Coast Guard was notified to assist in search and rescue operations.

AFP reported that this attack is part of a series of similar operations over recent months, which have left at least 189 people dead. Southcom stated on social media that the targeted vessel was operated by a group identified as a terrorist organization and was traveling along a known drug trafficking route. A black-and-white video released online showed the vessel being destroyed by a missile strike, followed by a large explosion.

The operations began under President Donald Trump’s administration last September as part of a campaign against alleged “narco-terrorists” in Latin America. However, the U.S. has not released evidence proving the targeted vessels’ involvement in drug trafficking, prompting legal and human rights groups to question the legitimacy of the strikes.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed deep sorrow and concern over the brutal killing of five people in Kapasia, Gazipur. The victims included a wife, brother-in-law, and three children who were murdered by having their throats slit on Friday night. In a statement issued to the media on Saturday, the party’s Secretary General, Mia Golam Porwar, described the incident as heart-wrenching, heinous, and inhumane.

He said the massacre has deeply shaken the nation and highlighted the alarming state of public safety in the country. Porwar noted that such a barbaric act in a civilized and independent nation is unacceptable and reflects the deterioration of law and order. He urged the government to uncover the truth behind the killings swiftly and bring those responsible to justice with exemplary punishment.

The Jamaat leader prayed for the departed souls and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family, asking for divine strength for them to endure the tragedy.

The United Arab Emirates has begun expelling large numbers of Pakistani workers following Islamabad’s mediation efforts to end the conflict between the United States and Iran. The move has strained relations between the longtime partners, with reports indicating that thousands of Pakistani Shia workers have been detained and deported since mid-April. Interviews cited by The New York Times describe sudden arrests, detentions, and deportations without explanation, raising concerns about sectarian targeting.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry has denied any mass deportations, stating that only individuals involved in criminal activities were expelled. The UAE has not commented publicly. The expulsions follow Abu Dhabi’s withdrawal of a $3.5 billion loan to Pakistan, a significant blow to its foreign reserves. Saudi Arabia subsequently offered a $3 billion deposit to help stabilize Pakistan’s finances.

Analysts suggest the rift stems from Pakistan’s failure to strongly condemn Iran’s attacks on the UAE and its perceived tilt toward Tehran. The situation risks deepening Pakistan’s entanglement in Gulf rivalries between the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

A poem published on May 9, 2026, by Mosharraf Hossain Khan in the outlet 'Amar Desh' evokes the events of a night at Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar, referring to it as a planned massacre. The poet repeatedly demands to know how many bullets were fired, how many people were killed, and where the bodies were hidden, portraying the night as terrifying and gruesome.

The poem draws a parallel between the alleged killings of May 5 and the 1971 genocide of March 25, questioning whether the former was even more horrific. It expresses the author’s moral and civic right to know the truth, as a citizen whose taxes fund the state’s actions. Through vivid imagery of bullets, bulldozers, and rivers bearing witness, the poet calls for accountability and remembrance of those who died.

The piece concludes with a symbolic vision of the victims becoming stars standing against their killers, reinforcing the demand for truth and justice surrounding the Shapla Chattar events.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called on the Indian government not to harm any particular religion, caste, or community. He made the appeal on Saturday at a press briefing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after returning from a week-long visit to Japan that began on May 2. Responding to questions about alleged persecution of Muslims in West Bengal, he said his party was monitoring the situation and would act as appropriate as a neighboring country.

Dr. Rahman emphasized that India’s constitution is secular and guarantees equal religious and civic rights for all citizens. He also urged the Bangladesh government to prioritize public safety over political divisions and to take concrete action against criminals instead of relying on social media campaigns. During his trip, he visited Japan and Thailand, meeting injured “July fighters” receiving treatment abroad and urging the government to ensure their medical care and rehabilitation.

He further discussed strengthening Bangladesh–Japan cooperation in education, skills development, and investment, and proposed establishing a modern cancer institute in Bangladesh with Japanese support.

Police in Gazipur’s Kapasia recovered the bodies of five people, including a woman, her brother, and three children, from a rented house in Rautkona village on Saturday morning, May 9, 2026. The victims were allegedly killed by the woman’s husband, Forkan Mia, who fled after the incident. Forkan, a private car driver, had been living with his family in the ground floor of expatriate Monir Hossain’s house. The murders are believed to have occurred late Friday night.

A typed but unsigned document found near the bodies accused Forkan’s in-laws of misappropriating ten lakh taka, suggesting a financial dispute. Police sources said Forkan had ongoing family conflicts and had recently assaulted his wife. Local witnesses described the gruesome scene, with the victims’ throats slit and the mother’s body tied to a window grill. Law enforcement agencies including PBI, DB, and CID have begun a joint investigation to determine the motive.

Local political leaders and officials visited the site and expressed condolences. Police have sent the bodies for autopsy and launched multiple teams to arrest the fugitive suspect.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned that military activity in the Strait of Hormuz could increase if negotiations with Iran fail to reach a final agreement. Speaking at the White House on Friday, Trump said that unless everything is finalized and signed, the United States may take a different path. He hinted at the possible resumption and expansion of the previously suspended military operation known as 'Project Freedom'.

Trump stated that Pakistan, acting as a mediator between Washington and Tehran, has urged the United States not to restart the military operation. He added that if conditions do not become favorable, the U.S. could return to 'Project Freedom' under a new phase called 'Project Freedom Plus', which would include additional measures. However, he did not specify what those additional steps might be.

The remarks signal renewed tension between the U.S. and Iran, with uncertainty surrounding the future of the negotiations and the potential scope of any expanded military initiative.

A goods-laden truck overturned early Saturday on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, causing severe traffic congestion in the Gazaria area of Munshiganj. The incident occurred on the Chattogram-bound lane near the Bausia point, with the traffic jam stretching from there to the Meghna Bridge area.

According to the officer-in-charge of the Bhoberchar Highway Police Outpost, Md. Shah Kamal Akand, the truck overturned in the Vitikandi area, leading to the disruption. Highway police responded promptly, beginning the removal of goods and the damaged vehicle from the road to restore normal traffic flow.

Authorities expect vehicle movement to return to normal within a short time once the clearing operation is completed.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam has accused the government of delaying action on the July Charter and constitutional reform issues. He made the remarks on Saturday, May 9, during a discussion titled “What to Do to Resolve the Reform Deadlock” held at a hotel in the capital.

Nahid Islam stated that the ruling party is avoiding the July Charter and constitutional reform topics, while emphasizing that reforms must be based on public participation, transparency, and sovereign authority. He also alleged that although top leaders, including the prime minister, had previously supported a referendum before the election, they are now opposing it after coming to power, which he said rejects the people’s aspirations.

He added that peaceful programs and discussions inside and outside parliament will continue to implement the referendum’s verdict, but warned that if the government does not respond positively, a tougher movement will be launched to press their demands.