Taiwan’s legislature has approved a special fund of $25 billion to purchase weapons from the United States. The bill passed after months of debate over defense and security spending. The package includes high mobility artillery rocket systems, self-propelled howitzers, missiles, drones, and Javelin anti-armor missiles. It also contains a provision allowing for additional future spending on U.S. arms purchases.

The approved amount is about $15 billion less than what the ruling Democratic Progressive Party proposed last November. In the 113-seat legislature, the bill passed by a 59-0 vote, with 48 lawmakers from the ruling party abstaining. The decision comes as Taiwan seeks to strengthen its defense capabilities amid growing tensions with China.

China claims Taiwan as its territory and has repeatedly threatened to take control of the island by force if necessary. The United States, Taiwan’s main arms supplier, continues to provide significant military and political support. Last year, the Trump administration approved a record $11 billion in arms sales to Taiwan.

The United States is arranging a special evacuation flight to bring home American citizens aboard a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak. The vessel, MV Hondius, is currently heading toward Spain’s Canary Islands and is expected to arrive in Tenerife on Sunday, according to AFP. A spokesperson for the US State Department said the government is coordinating with Spanish authorities and other federal agencies to ensure the safe repatriation of the passengers.

The ship’s operator reported that 17 US citizens are on board, though the State Department has not confirmed the number. Three people—a Dutch couple and a German woman—have died, and several others have been infected with Andes virus, the only hantavirus known to spread between humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that the repatriated passengers will first be taken to Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, before being transferred to the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

CDC and Nebraska Medicine said the risk to the US public remains very low, and those under observation are currently healthy and symptom-free.

A member of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Shuknachhara area of Sajek Union under Baghaichhari upazila in Rangamati district early Saturday. The incident occurred in the 10 No. Para of Shuknachhara, where the victim, identified as Hegera Chakma alias Lettbap, was attacked and killed by gunfire.

According to Sajek Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tofazzal Hossain, police were heading to the scene after receiving reports of the shooting. The deceased was known to be affiliated with the Prasit faction of the UPDF. Attempts to contact several UPDF leaders for comment were unsuccessful, and no immediate statement was available from the group.

Further details about the motive or those responsible for the attack were not disclosed in the initial report, and an investigation was reportedly underway.

In Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar, 21 out of 26 tea estates have no government primary schools, causing hundreds of children from tea worker families to drop out of basic education. Despite the tea industry’s 172-year history in the region, tea workers remain educationally disadvantaged. Land disputes and the indifference of estate authorities have delayed the establishment of government schools. Existing private schools in the estates are in poor condition, often with only one or two classrooms and very low teaching standards.

According to the Kulaura Primary Education Office, the estates without government schools include Hingajia, Sirajnagar, Bormchal, Rehana, Gazipur, Jhimai, Merina, Jhunkijalai, Rangichhara Fari, Clevedon, Bijoya, Kaliti, Chatlapur, Longla, Tilakpur, Azgarabad, Dildarpur, Borhannagar, Rajanagar, Tarapasha, and Muraichhara. Former and current leaders of the Bangladesh Tea Workers’ Union said that tea worker children have been deprived of their right to education for generations due to land complications and lack of government action.

The acting Upazila Primary Education Officer stated that a proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education to establish six new government primary schools in the tea garden areas, with plans for gradual expansion.

Russia has called for the withdrawal of a draft resolution submitted by the United States and Bahrain to the United Nations Security Council that urges Iran to end its blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Russia’s state news agency TASS, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov said Moscow cannot support the proposal and advised against rushing any decision on it.

Alimov explained that Russia and China have prepared an alternative draft resolution calling on all parties to cease hostilities, refrain from the use of force, and resolve disputes through dialogue. The US-Bahrain draft has backing from Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, though none of these Gulf states are permanent members of the Security Council.

The report noted that Russia holds veto power in the Security Council, giving it the ability to block the resolution if it proceeds to a vote.

An FIR has been filed against TVK leader Vijay Thalapathy in Tamil Nadu following allegations that he submitted a fake letter of support from the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam’s (AMMK) sole legislator to claim majority status. The complaint was lodged by AMMK general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who accused Vijay of presenting a forged document to the governor to prove his party’s majority. Vijay’s party had earlier claimed to have the backing of 118 legislators but failed to provide written proof.

Vijay’s party, TVK, denied the allegations, asserting that AMMK legislator S. Kamaraj personally signed the support letter and that Dhinakaran had approved it. The controversy comes as Tamil Nadu remains without a clear government five days after election results, with no party securing an outright majority.

While Vijay’s party won the most seats, both the DMK and AIADMK are also maneuvering to form a government, with AIADMK reportedly seeking DMK’s support. The legal dispute adds further uncertainty to the ongoing political deadlock in the state.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman rode a specially designed smart car created by physically disabled college student Wakimul Islam and praised his innovative initiative. The event took place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, where the Prime Minister inspected the vehicle and encouraged the young inventor.

According to Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Roni, several senior officials, including Chief Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Roni, Mostafa Zulfiqar Hasan, and Shahadat Hossain Swadhin, were present during the occasion. The Prime Minister’s engagement highlighted official recognition of Wakimul’s technological creativity and his contribution as a differently abled innovator.

The event underscored the government’s interest in supporting youth-led innovation and inclusive technology development, as reflected in the Prime Minister’s personal encouragement to the student inventor.

Ten Bangladeshi nationals, including a child, were pushed back by Indian authorities through the Muraichhara border in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel from the local Muraichhara camp detained them around 7 a.m. on Friday, May 8, 2026, after noticing them wandering near the border area. Following identity verification, BGB handed them over to Kulaura Police Station at around 10:30 a.m.

According to police, the group—comprising one child, three women, and six men—had previously entered India illegally at different times. They were later detained by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and subsequently pushed back across the border into Bangladesh. After confirmation of their identities, BGB transferred them to the police, who later released them to their family members around 6 p.m.

Officials from both BGB and Kulaura Police confirmed the incident and the handover of the individuals to their relatives.

China’s aluminum exports increased by 15 percent in April compared with the same month last year, according to customs data released on Saturday and reported by Reuters. The country exported 598,000 tons of unprocessed aluminum and aluminum products in April, bringing total exports for the first four months of the year to 2.05 million tons.

The rise comes as global supply chains face severe disruption due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, which has effectively halted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts noted that the war has sharply constrained aluminum supply worldwide, placing China in a key position to meet global demand.

As the conflict continues, many international buyers have begun stockpiling aluminum and related components in anticipation of higher production costs and raw material prices. To meet the surge in foreign orders, Chinese factories have accelerated production and delivery, further boosting the country’s export momentum.

Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP visited the injured July fighters undergoing treatment at Vejthani International Hospital in Bangkok on Saturday, May 9, 2026. During the visit, he met with the seriously injured individuals, inquired about their medical progress, and urged doctors and officials to ensure the best possible care for them.

Dr. Rahman praised the courage, sacrifice, and contributions of the July fighters and prayed for their full and speedy recovery. The hospitalized fighters, in turn, called on the opposition leader to take effective steps toward implementing the July Charter and the referendum verdict.

He was accompanied on the visit by his foreign affairs adviser, Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem Arman MP.

Across Rajshahi’s Barind region, farmers are busy harvesting Boro paddy under intense heat, with cutting and threshing now in full swing. The Department of Agricultural Extension reports that 68,300 hectares have been cultivated this season, targeting 327,544 tons of rice. Early data show an average yield of 4.70 tons per hectare, and about 10 percent of the crop has been harvested so far.

Despite favorable weather and good yields, farmers are struggling with low market prices and rising labor costs. Fine-grain paddy, once a Rajshahi specialty, is selling for Tk 1,100–1,150 per maund, which barely covers wages. Farmers allege that millers and wholesalers are manipulating prices by stockpiling paddy during the peak season. Labor shortages and higher input costs have worsened the situation, leaving many unable to recover their investments.

Officials say the harvest will continue through May and could strengthen local food security if completed successfully. However, farmers urge direct government procurement from local markets to reduce losses and prevent middlemen from exploiting them.

Authorities in Cumilla have intensified border surveillance to prevent the entry of Indian cattle, bringing relief to local farmers ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. According to the district livestock office, around 260,000 animals have been prepared across 17 upazilas, exceeding local demand of about 247,000. Farmers expect fair prices if the strict monitoring continues through the festival period.

Local farmers and farm owners are busy preparing cattle, goats, sheep, and buffaloes using natural fattening methods. Many have started selling animals online, planning to supply surplus livestock to other districts. However, they expressed concern over rising feed costs not matched by meat prices, warning that prolonged imbalance could drive some out of business.

District officials confirmed coordination among the Border Guard Bangladesh, police, and administration to block illegal cattle entry. Over 300 temporary markets will be set up, with enhanced patrols and two daily task forces monitoring markets. Authorities expect that strong vigilance will ensure stable prices and a secure Eid market environment.

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.