Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil producer of Saudi Arabia, reported a net profit of 12.13 trillion riyals ($32.5 billion) for the first three months of 2026. The figure marks a 25.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year, when the company earned 9.57 trillion riyals ($25.4 billion). Aramco’s sales rose from $107.6 billion to $114.9 billion, while its cash flow reached $30.7 billion.

The company attributed this strong performance to higher sales and the full operational capacity of its East-West Crude Oil Pipeline, which runs to the Red Sea and bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser said the pipeline now transports up to seven million barrels of oil per day and has become a vital supply artery, helping ease disruptions caused by shipping limitations in the Strait of Hormuz.

Nasser added that recent developments have underscored the critical role of oil and gas in global energy security and economic stability, emphasizing the importance of reliable energy supply.

Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam stated that the government is determined to ensure smooth travel for homebound passengers during the upcoming Eid holidays. He emphasized that coordinated preparations are being made across road, rail, and waterways to guarantee safe and comfortable journeys. The minister made these remarks on Sunday, May 10, at an event marking Maritime Safety Week 2026 at the Ladies Club in Eskaton, Dhaka.

He highlighted that Bangladesh’s economy remains largely labor-dependent, with garment workers, expatriate laborers, and domestic workers all contributing significantly to national development. The minister also noted that the country’s extensive 16,000-kilometer network of waterways is one of its greatest natural assets.

The government’s focus on integrated transport management aims to minimize disruptions during the Eid travel rush, particularly in the river transport sector, where strict monitoring has been promised.

Since assuming office on February 17, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has initiated a series of development and policy reforms aimed at creating a transparent, accountable, and efficient administration. Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan, known for his earlier efforts to curb exam malpractice, is now leading efforts to modernize Bangladesh’s education system. His plans focus on improving quality, expanding research, promoting technology-based learning, and strengthening ethical values.

The education ministry has recently held high-level meetings to address teacher shortages, teaching quality, and infrastructure limitations. National newspapers have highlighted the ministry’s renewed momentum under Milan and State Minister Bobby Hajjaj. The article emphasizes that a modern education system should foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills rather than rote learning.

Key reform areas include integrating technology and artificial intelligence into classrooms, expanding technical and vocational education to reduce unemployment, and increasing research funding in higher education. The piece concludes that Bangladesh now faces a historic opportunity to build an inclusive, skill-based, and innovation-oriented education system.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. The most notable inclusion is Taj Nehar, while Sharmin Sultana, who played in the recent Sri Lanka series, has been left out. Following a disappointing home series against Sri Lanka, where Bangladesh lost both the ODI and T20I series, the team is now focusing on World Cup preparations. The training camp will begin on May 12.

The tournament will take place in England from June 12, featuring 12 teams. Bangladesh has been placed in Group A alongside Australia, India, Pakistan, South Africa, and the Netherlands. The team, led by Nigar Sultana Joty, will play its first match against the Netherlands on June 14 at Edgbaston. The Netherlands will be making their debut in the T20 World Cup.

Bangladesh’s remaining group matches are scheduled for June 17, 20, 25, and 28, as the team aims to improve its performance after recent setbacks.

A new study in South Korea has found that smartwatches can warn users several minutes before they faint. Conducted jointly by Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital, the research focused on detecting vasovagal syncope, a condition that causes sudden drops in heart rate and blood pressure leading to fainting. The findings, published in the European Heart Journal Digital Health, mark the first successful attempt to predict fainting using a commercial smartwatch.

The study used Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6, which monitored participants’ heart rate variability and biosignals through its photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor. Data from 132 patients suspected of having vasovagal syncope were analyzed using an AI-based prediction model. The system achieved an accuracy rate of about 84.6 percent, with 90 percent sensitivity and 64 percent specificity.

Researchers noted that early warnings could help patients sit down, move to a safe place, or seek help in time, reducing the risk of injury from sudden falls.

Four tourists, including a university student, were injured in an attack at Guliakhali Beach in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram on Saturday afternoon. The incident began with an argument between local youths and tourists over the use of a swing, which escalated into physical assault. Police have filed a case naming five individuals in connection with the attack.

Local business owners and visitors alleged that a group of influential youths have long been creating disturbances at Guliakhali Beach, often clashing with tourists over parking, seating, and food bills. They said the absence of adequate security has allowed such incidents to increase. Despite the beach attracting thousands of visitors daily, there is still no permanent police outpost or effective beach management committee.

Sitakunda police confirmed that officers responded to the scene, rescued the injured, and arranged medical treatment. The upazila executive officer stated that measures will be taken to ensure the safety of tourists at all local attractions.

At least 12 police officers were killed and five others injured in a car bomb and gun attack on a checkpoint in Pakistan’s northwestern Bannu district on Saturday night, officials said Sunday. The assault occurred in the Fateh Khel area when a suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden vehicle into the police post, followed by multiple armed assailants entering the site, according to Bannu police officer Muhammad Sajjad Khan.

Officials reported that the attackers used heavy weapons and small drones during the assault and took police weapons while retreating. One officer remains missing. The attack is part of a recent surge in militant activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which has strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul.

Authorities noted that similar incidents have increased in Bannu and other border regions in recent years. Afghanistan’s Taliban government has denied Pakistan’s accusations that militants use Afghan territory as a safe haven, but tensions between the two neighbors have continued to rise.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under growing pressure from within his Labour Party following a severe electoral setback. After a major defeat in local elections, Labour MPs and senior ministers have warned Starmer to act swiftly to reverse the party’s decline. Trade unions that continue to fund the party have also urged him to provide concrete commitments for change. Millions of voters expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s performance during its 22 months in power, and even close allies have publicly voiced concern.

According to BBC reports, Starmer plans to deliver a speech on Monday promising closer ties with the European Union and outlining Labour-friendly policy proposals. However, it remains uncertain whether his address will include any dramatic measures capable of shifting public sentiment. Party insiders say the focus should be on governing more effectively and demonstrating visible improvements in people’s lives.

Support for Starmer has fallen sharply nationwide, and calls for his resignation are increasing among MPs. With no clear alternative leader emerging, questions persist about whether he can recover his authority and stabilize the government.

At least several dozen people were killed in a new attack by armed jihadists in central Mali, according to local and security sources on Saturday. The assault, which occurred on Friday, was claimed by the al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). Earlier in the week, the same group had attacked several villages, killing at least 30 people, AFP reported from Bamako.

Local officials said the recent wave of violence has left more than 70 people dead, with some estimates reaching around 80. A youth leader accused the nearby army unit of failing to respond to repeated calls for help, describing the community’s grief as overwhelming. A security source described the situation in the region as extremely alarming, noting that JNIM has been targeting villages that refused to sign local peace agreements.

The latest violence follows unprecedented attacks last month by JNIM and the Tuareg-controlled Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) against Mali’s ruling junta, pushing the country’s security situation into deeper crisis and leaving parts of the north under militant control.

Actor-turned-politician Chandrasekhar Joseph Vijay, popularly known as Thalapathy Vijay, signed several public welfare orders immediately after taking oath as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday. His first directives included providing up to 200 units of electricity free of cost, forming a special task force to combat drug abuse, and establishing a dedicated force and helpline to ensure women’s safety. In his emotional address, Vijay pledged to focus on education, health, and water, and to care for farmers and fishermen.

Vijay reflected on his humble background, noting that he was not from a royal family and had faced many hardships before reaching this position. He also highlighted the state’s heavy debt burden of nearly 10 trillion rupees inherited from the DMK era, promising that no public funds would be wasted or misused. Expressing gratitude to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Praveen Chakraborty, and leftist allies, he vowed to usher in a new era of secularism and social justice.

Vijay’s party, TVK, emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats but secured a majority of 120 seats through coalition support. His government must prove its majority in the assembly by May 13.

Over the past four and a half decades, 37 teachers and students have been killed in politically motivated violence at Rajshahi University. Among the victims were four teachers and 33 students from various political organizations. Most of these killings, which occurred between 1982 and 2026, remain unresolved, with perpetrators often escaping justice due to political influence, administrative inaction, or lack of proper investigation.

The incidents stemmed from campus power struggles, hall control, extortion, and national political movements. The first killing occurred in 1982 during a clash between the Islami Chhatra Shibir and a coalition of left-leaning student groups. Subsequent years saw repeated violence involving Shibir, Chhatra League, Chhatra Dal, and other organizations. Several teacher murders, including those of Professors Taher, Yunus, Shafiul Islam Lilon, and Rezaul Karim Siddique, also shook the campus.

University officials and student leaders expressed differing views on the causes and accountability. Police cited witness shortages and lack of follow-up by plaintiffs, while student leaders blamed political interference. The university proctor stated that student politics remains allowed but expressed hope that past patterns of violence will not return.

In Gazipur’s Kapasia upazila, five members of the same family were killed at their home in Rautkona village on Saturday morning, leaving the local community in shock. District Commissioner (DC) Md Nurul Karim Bhuiyan gained attention for his swift and humane response to the tragedy. Under his direct supervision, the victims’ bodies were sent for autopsy the same night and later transported to their home district, Gopalganj.

Senior administrative officials, including the Additional District Magistrate and the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, visited the scene on the DC’s instructions to support the grieving family. Considering the urgency and the risk of decomposition, the DC arranged for the post-mortems to be completed at night, despite regular hospital hours ending earlier. He also provided two refrigerated vans for safe transport and ensured financial assistance for burial and logistics.

Police suspect that Sharmin Khanam’s husband, Forkan, may have committed the murders before fleeing. The DC’s prompt and compassionate actions brought some comfort to residents amid the tragedy.

Begum Rokeya University (BRUR) in Rangpur has come under scrutiny as students allege that the university’s ban on political activities, declared in October 2024, remains largely unimplemented. The 108th syndicate meeting had unanimously prohibited all political activities by students, teachers, officers, and staff, warning of lifetime expulsion for violations. Despite this, reports suggest that political events, committee formations, and gatherings continue on campus, with allegations of administrative participation in partisan programs.

Students claim that the ban exists only on paper, pointing to the administration’s silence and alleged involvement in political activities. They argue that the prohibition was introduced after the July uprising and the death of student Abu Sayeed to prevent future violence and ensure a peaceful academic environment. However, the persistence of political programs and the absence of disciplinary action have raised doubts about the administration’s commitment.

The delay in holding the long-expected student union elections has further fueled frustration. Students have repeatedly urged the election commission to announce a new schedule, but no progress has been made, deepening uncertainty on campus.

Students of Eden Mohila College in Dhaka staged a protest late on May 9, demanding a ban on student politics on campus. The demonstration began around midnight, with participants chanting slogans against political activities and attempting to break open the college’s main gate. Witnesses and police reported that students from several dormitories gathered near the main entrance, broke locks on multiple gates, and tried to burn a banner outside the campus. The banner reportedly contained the name of a student leader aspiring for a political post.

Protesters argued that political influence and party activities were disrupting the academic environment, calling for a completely politics-free campus. They painted slogans in black on the main gate demanding a “completely politics-free Eden campus.” One student said the protest was triggered after earlier slogans calling for a politics-free campus were erased from the gate.

Lalbagh Police confirmed that the protest lasted several hours before students returned to their dormitories around 2 a.m. The central general secretary of the student wing involved responded online, asserting that participation in student politics is a fundamental right and criticizing attempts to suppress it.

One passenger was killed and four others, including the driver, were injured when a CNG-run autorickshaw lost control and collided with a roller vehicle in Brahmanbaria. The accident occurred around 11 a.m. on Sunday at the Urshiura area along the Comilla–Sylhet highway. The deceased was identified as Romana, daughter of Baru Mia from Tetua village in Kasba upazila. The injured were Tohin from Sadar upazila, Hasina Begum and Halima from Kasba, and Pankaj Chakraborty from Debidwar, Comilla.

According to local residents, the autorickshaw was traveling from Kasba toward the district town when it lost control and hit the roller vehicle, leaving five people seriously injured. Locals took the victims to Brahmanbaria General Hospital, where one passenger died during treatment. Police from Sarail Khatihata Highway Station were dispatched to the scene following the incident.

Authorities have not yet provided further details about the cause of the accident or the condition of the injured.