New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has urged the British royal family to return the historic Kohinoor diamond to India. He made the statement at a press conference in Lower Manhattan ahead of King Charles’s visit. Mamdani clarified that he had no scheduled meeting with the King, who was attending an event at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. When asked what he would say if he met the monarch, Mamdani replied that he would ask him to return the priceless Kohinoor diamond to India.

The 105.6-carat diamond was taken from an Indian princely ruler during British colonial rule in the 1840s and later presented to Queen Victoria. It is now part of the British Crown Jewels, kept in the Tower of London. According to The New York Times, Mamdani’s Indian heritage and family background align with his anti-colonial stance. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a noted scholar of colonialism, and his mother, Mira Nair, is a filmmaker whose work often explores colonial experiences.

India has long demanded the return of the Kohinoor diamond, a symbol of colonial-era loss and cultural heritage.

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that American consumers lost about 2.1 billion dollars to social media–based scams in 2025. The report identified social media as the leading source of financial losses compared to other fraud channels. Around 30 percent of victims said their scams began on social platforms, with Facebook accounting for the highest losses, followed by WhatsApp and Instagram.

The FTC found that online shopping scams were the most common, with over 40 percent of victims saying they ordered products after seeing social media ads. These included clothing, cosmetics, car parts, and even pets, often from fake or unfamiliar websites. Investment scams caused about 1.1 billion dollars in losses, while romance scams also grew, with 60 percent of those victims reporting initial contact through social media.

The FTC advised users to limit who can view their posts and personal information, avoid investments suggested online acquaintances, and research sellers before making purchases. Analysts warned that as social media use expands, targeted advertising and personal data misuse are increasing fraud risks, making stronger platform security and user awareness essential.

A worker was killed in a collision between a motorcycle and a battery-run autorickshaw on Thursday morning in the Muktir Bazar area along the Valuka-Gafargaon road in Mymensingh’s Valuka upazila. The deceased was identified as Md. Shihab Mia, 21, son of Alam Mia from Gowari village in Birunia Union.

According to Valuka Model Police Station’s Second Officer SI Md. Rafiqul Islam, Shihab Mia worked at the Butterfly factory in Mallikbari area of the upazila. He was on his way to the factory when the accident occurred, resulting in his death. Police were dispatched to the scene following the incident.

The report did not mention further details about the cause of the collision or the condition of others involved.

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shah Alam stated that Chattogram city is functioning normally and is not submerged in water. During an inspection tour of key city areas on Thursday morning with Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain, he said no stagnant water was found and dismissed media reports suggesting widespread waterlogging. He noted that sudden rainfall of around 60 millimeters could cause temporary water accumulation but clarified that this does not amount to prolonged waterlogging.

Explaining the situation, the minister said ongoing canal construction has led to temporary water congestion in some areas due to retaining walls and other barriers. The Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) has assured that these obstacles will be removed soon. He added that, following the Prime Minister’s directive, a coordination committee has been formed under the mayor’s leadership, including representatives from all relevant agencies, to address the issue.

The minister’s remarks aimed to reassure residents and counter claims of persistent flooding in the city.

Myanmar’s military ruler and current president Min Aung Hlaing has announced a one-sixth reduction in prison sentences for all inmates, marking a general amnesty tied to a national holiday. According to official statements, the decision applies broadly without naming specific prisoners. Sources close to detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi indicated that her sentence could also be partially reduced under this order.

Suu Kyi, detained since the 2021 military coup, remains imprisoned on multiple charges including corruption and COVID-19 regulation violations. A former senior member of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party said it is still unclear how much her total sentence will decrease. An NLD-linked source claimed that the 80-year-old leader would be covered by the amnesty. In 2023, her sentence was previously reduced to 27 years following partial pardons.

Analysts view the move as a possible attempt by the junta to ease international pressure, while opposition groups and observers describe it as a limited and symbolic reform. Suu Kyi’s family and supporters have expressed concern over her deteriorating health and prolonged isolation.

In Sirajganj’s Raiganj upazila, toxic smoke from a brick kiln reportedly damaged around 80 bighas of Boro rice fields, affecting at least 30 farmers. The incident occurred near Bilchandi area, where locals allege that emissions from the ‘Tanjila’ brick kiln spread over nearby farmland, burning rice plants and blackening the grains. In protest, affected farmers held a demonstration in Telijana village, demanding immediate closure of the kiln and compensation for their losses.

Farmers including Abdul Malek, Abdul Alim, Amzad Hossain, and Gokul Nandi said their crops were destroyed overnight, leaving them uncertain about repaying debts and supporting their families. Brick kiln owner Faruk Hossain denied responsibility, claiming the damage might have other causes and dismissing concerns about administrative action. A Raiganj upazila official confirmed receiving complaints and said an investigation would be conducted.

Environmental experts warned that unregulated brick kiln operations are harming agricultural land and posing risks to food security, urging stronger oversight and enforcement.

Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani has announced that the country will soon unveil a new weapon described as terrifying to its enemies. According to a report by Iran’s state broadcaster Press TV on Wednesday, Irani remarked that he hoped the weapon would not cause the enemy a “heart attack.” He said the announcement follows recent military confrontations in which Iran claims to have successfully countered foreign aggression.

Irani stated that enemy forces had believed they could achieve their objectives quickly through attacks on Iran, but those assumptions have now become a subject of ridicule in military academies. He also claimed that Iran’s navy launched at least seven missile strikes against the U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, temporarily halting its flight operations. The commander added that since the aggression began on February 28, Iranian forces have carried out around 100 retaliatory strikes on sensitive U.S. and Israeli targets across West Asia.

Irani further asserted that Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz from the Arabian Sea and warned that any further approach by enemy forces would trigger immediate action. Despite the blockade, he claimed some Iranian ships have successfully reached their destinations.

In Chirirbandar upazila of Dinajpur, van driver Asaduzzaman has become a key ally for local farmers battling rat infestations in Aman and Boro rice fields. He designed a bamboo cone-shaped trap that has proven highly effective in controlling rats, offering an alternative to chemical pesticides and traditional methods that failed to deliver results. Farmers now rely on his traps to safeguard their crops, and Asaduzzaman earns between 40,000 and 50,000 taka each season from this work.

Farmers such as Robiul Islam and Arman Ali reported that Asaduzzaman’s bamboo traps have significantly reduced rat damage, improving yields and reducing costs. Each rat caught earns him 30 to 50 taka, and he kills 30 to 70 rats daily during peak seasons. Agricultural officials, including assistant officer Minhajul Islam Nawab, confirmed that Asaduzzaman has killed around 30,000 to 35,000 rats so far and has been recognized by the agriculture department for his contribution.

Officials are encouraging farmers to adopt bamboo traps instead of chemical poisons, citing their effectiveness and environmental safety.

The liaison committee of the eleven-party alliance convened a meeting on Thursday morning at the central office of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in Moghbazar, Dhaka. The session began after 11 a.m. and aimed to determine the next course of action for the ongoing political movement.

According to the source, the meeting focused on reviewing the current state of the movement, discussing future strategies, and formulating coordinated programs. Leaders involved in the discussions stated that the next steps would be decided jointly, taking into account the overall political situation in the country.

Following the meeting, the alliance leaders are scheduled to hold a press conference at the same venue to present their decisions to the media.

A human chain was organized in Chapainawabganj demanding the cessation of toll collection on the Birshreshtha Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Bridge. The demonstration took place on Thursday at 11 a.m. in front of the Roads and Highways Department office near the bridge in Rehaichar, led by the Citizens’ Rights Realization Committee. Participants included transport workers, owners, teachers, students, lawyers, and people from various professions.

Speakers at the event stated that tolls have been collected on the bridge since its inauguration in 1993, continuing for 33 years. Despite repeated appeals and submission of memorandums to stop the toll, local authorities have not taken action. They noted that even a recent request by local Member of Parliament Nurul Islam Bulbul to the Road Transport Minister in parliament yielded no result.

The speakers warned that if toll collection continues into the next year, they will launch stricter movements, including road blockades, to press their demand.

Bata Bangladesh has announced a 105 percent final cash dividend for the year 2025, raising its total annual dividend to 248 percent. The company reported a turnover of 9,164 million taka despite global economic pressures, political uncertainty, and challenging geopolitical conditions. The announcement reflects Bata’s continued focus on strengthening its long-term competitiveness in the footwear market.

Throughout the year, the company emphasized customer-centric strategies, prioritizing high-growth segments such as casual, sneaker, and premium product categories. These areas showed notable progress, aligning well with evolving market trends. The expansion of Bata’s omnichannel network further enhanced customer engagement across both digital and physical platforms.

Bata Bangladesh continues to improve institutional efficiency and maintain an organized structure to navigate current market conditions. With ongoing investments in product innovation and customer service, the company aims to capitalize on future opportunities and sustain its leadership in the country’s footwear industry.

A major fire broke out at a tin-shed ink manufacturing factory in Amulia Model Town, Demra, on Thursday, April 30, 2026, around 11:30 a.m. According to Fire Service Inspector Anwarul Islam, the Demra Fire Station dispatched two units immediately after receiving the alert at 11:38 a.m., reaching the site by 11:55 a.m. As the fire intensified, additional units from Siddikbazar and Khilgaon fire stations joined, bringing the total to eight units working to control the blaze.

Local sources reported that the fire spread rapidly due to the flammable materials inside the tin-shed structure, causing panic among nearby residents. Many people evacuated to safer areas as smoke and flames engulfed the factory. Firefighters continued their efforts to bring the situation under control, while law enforcement personnel were deployed to maintain order at the scene.

As of the latest update, no casualties or damage estimates were confirmed, and the cause of the fire remained unknown.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered 732 pieces of Indian cosmetic products during an operation near the Dewanganj border area of Jamalpur. The raid took place on Wednesday night near border pillar 1076 in the Kumarer Char area. The 35 BGB Battalion headquarters confirmed the seizure through a press release on Thursday morning.

According to the report, the operation was conducted based on BGB’s own intelligence information. The seized cosmetics were later handed over to the Roumari Customs authorities on Thursday. The 35 BGB Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Hasanur Rahman, stated that anti-smuggling and anti-drug operations along the border are continuing.

The operation reflects ongoing efforts by BGB to curb illegal cross-border trade and smuggling activities in the region.

Iran has accumulated about 22,000 pounds, or 11 tons, of enriched uranium since the United States withdrew from the nuclear deal eight years ago. Despite a U.S. military campaign launched two months ago to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, the current status of this stockpile remains unclear. The uncertainty follows U.S. airstrikes in June 2025 on Iran’s enrichment facilities at Natanz and Fordow, and on uranium storage tunnels in Isfahan.

After the attacks, Iran suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, ending direct monitoring of its enrichment sites. Satellite imagery has not resolved where the uranium is stored, and some of it may be buried under war debris. Experts say that even if Iran retrieves the material, it would take many months to convert it into weapons-grade fuel. The Trump administration claims U.S. satellites are tracking the buried uranium, but analysts question this, suggesting Iran may have moved much of its stockpile to a new underground site near Isfahan.

The situation leaves open the possibility that Iran retains a hidden enrichment facility capable of restarting weapons-related activities if conditions allow.

Seven suspected drug dealers were arrested in Tongi, Gazipur, after attacking police officers during an anti-drug operation on Wednesday night. The Gazipur Metropolitan Police team conducted the raid at Himarydighi Amtali Keranirtek slum, where the suspects surrounded the officers and attempted to assault them. Several officers, including constables Ariful Islam, Rakibul Islam, Jahanara Islam, and SI (unarmed) Nure Alam, were injured in the attack. Police later detained Shahin Ahmed Rizvi, Sohel, Raihan, Rowshan Ara, Sumi Akter, Nurjahan, and Beauty Akter, while alleged top drug dealer Runa Akter escaped.

According to Gazipur Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) Md. Belayet Hossain, a case has been filed with Tongi East Police Station over the incident. Officer-in-Charge Md. Mehedi Hasan stated that the arrested individuals are being processed for transfer to the Gazipur District and Sessions Judge Court.

The arrested Shahin Ahmed Rizvi is identified as a candidate for the Tongi East Thana Jubo Dal president post and a contestant for the Gazipur City Corporation’s Ward 46 councilor position.