The Indian government has strongly condemned former U.S. President Donald Trump for sharing a social media post that described India as a 'hellhole'. The Ministry of External Affairs called the remark 'inappropriate' and 'distasteful'. Trump had reposted a statement from conservative host Michael Savage on his Truth Social account criticizing birthright citizenship in the U.S. The post falsely claimed that Indian immigrants in the tech sector discriminate against white Americans and mocked their English proficiency.

Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the comments were baseless and did not reflect the true nature of India-U.S. relations, which are built on mutual respect and shared interests. India’s opposition Congress Party also labeled the post as 'deeply insulting and anti-India'. In the U.S., the Hindu American Foundation called it 'racist and hateful', while Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera described it as offensive and ignorant.

The controversy comes just weeks before U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s planned visit to India, raising concerns about renewed strain in bilateral ties already affected by disputes over oil imports from Russia and trade tariffs.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis has announced a three-month program in Dhaka demanding the implementation of a referendum verdict and the resolution of ongoing national crises. The announcement was made by the party’s Amir, Mamunul Haque, during a public gathering held on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Suhrawardy Udyan.

According to the declaration, the program will include citizen assemblies in every district during May, June, and July, followed by a mass rally in Dhaka on August 5. The event was presided over by Maulana Mamunul Haque and attended by several political leaders, including Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, opposition Chief Whip and National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman Col. (Retd.) Oli Ahmed, and Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju.

The gathering reflected a coalition of opposition and Islamist political figures emphasizing collective action to address political and social challenges through public mobilization.

Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh has called for a united stand against terrorism to ensure safe and peaceful educational institutions. The organization’s central president, Muntasir Ahmad, made the appeal on Friday after Juma prayers at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Dhaka, during a pre-rally gathering for an anti-terrorism march. He said that dominance struggles among student groups were polluting the academic environment and urged students and authorities to reject violence.

Ahmad described educational institutions as the conscience-building centers of a nation, lamenting that weapons, fear, and violence were darkening campuses. He accused some groups of turning campuses into centers of terror under the guise of student politics. The organization reaffirmed its uncompromising stance for a terrorism-free academic environment and pledged to continue peaceful protests if necessary.

As part of its anti-terrorism campaign, Islami Chhatra Andolan announced a nationwide human chain program to be held across all campuses on Sunday. Leaders also urged all student organizations to abandon revenge politics and promote tolerance and welfare-oriented student activities.

Myanmar’s government has declared a state of emergency across 60 townships in nine states and regions, according to local media reports on Friday. The measure, announced by the President’s Office on Thursday, aims to suppress armed unrest, restore stability, and reestablish law and order. Under the order, administrative and judicial powers have been transferred to the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, who has delegated authority to regional commanders to directly oversee security operations.

Officials stated that commanders may further distribute responsibilities among subordinate officers as needed. The move effectively places the affected townships under military control, significantly expanding the army’s influence over civil administration and the judiciary. Civilian trials may now be conducted in military tribunals, where penalties could range from long-term imprisonment to capital punishment.

Earlier in the week, President Min Aung Hlaing set a 100-day deadline for peace talks with anti-government armed groups, inviting both signatories and non-signatories of the 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement to participate.

ATM Azharul Islam, Naib-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, warned that the outcome would not be good if people take to the streets to demand their rights. Speaking on Friday afternoon at a Jamaat-organized assembly in Badarganj High School auditorium, Rangpur, he urged the government to quickly implement the July Charter as approved by the people, saying constitutional excuses would not suffice.

He stated that citizens had overwhelmingly voted in favor of the July Charter through a referendum, but the government had forgotten its promises after coming to power. He accused the authorities of dismissing opposing views under the pretext of constitutional justification. Azharul Islam also criticized rising commodity prices, severe load-shedding lasting up to 16 hours in some areas, and the spread of extortion, claiming the government was indifferent to these issues.

He reiterated that every provision of the July Charter should be implemented as endorsed by the people, warning that ignoring public sentiment could lead to unrest.

Rezaul Hossain and Iarul Islam have been re-elected as chairman and secretary general of Bangladesh Congress. The announcement was made on Friday during the party’s 4th National Council held at Abdus Salam Hall of the National Press Club. Shafiqul Islam and Abdullah Al Mamun were elected as vice-chairmen, while Mizanur Rahman, Ziaur Rashid, and M Taher Uddin were chosen as joint secretaries. The oath for the newly elected leaders was administered by Saiful Haque, general secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party.

In his remarks, chairman Kazi Rezaul Hossain warned that the government’s rising debt and fuel price increases would negatively affect public life by driving up commodity prices and reducing purchasing power. He also criticized the government’s consensus commission, claiming that despite spending about 15 million taka, Bangladesh Congress was excluded from participation. Additionally, he alleged that funds from canal excavation projects were being misused by local leaders.

The newly elected leaders pledged to strengthen and organize the party further. Representatives from various political parties, including JAGPA, Bangladesh Muslim League, and Bangladesh Labour Party, attended the council.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited West Bengal and took a boat trip on the Ganges River during his tour. After he shared photos of the visit on social media, political criticism followed. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee mocked the prime minister, suggesting he should also take a dip in the Yamuna River.

According to Indian media reports, Banerjee made the remarks at a public rally in Howrah, saying Modi chose the Ganges because it is clean, unlike the polluted Yamuna in Delhi. She contrasted the two rivers, arguing that while the Ganges in Bengal is suitable for travel, the Yamuna remains heavily polluted under Modi’s government.

The Yamuna’s pollution has been a long-standing issue in Delhi, with little visible progress in controlling it despite repeated political discussions. Analysts view Modi’s Ganga trip as politically significant ahead of the West Bengal elections, especially after the recent budget announcement of a corridor to improve connectivity between Varanasi and Kolkata.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Amir Maulana Mamunul Haque has said that the ruling BNP cannot survive if it betrays the legacy of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia. Speaking at a public rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on Friday, he called on BNP leaders not to turn away from the political foundation that emerged from the February 12 election. He also linked the proposed July Revolution to the historical movements of 1905, 1921, 1947, 1971, 2013, and 2024, describing it as a continuation of Bangladesh’s national and Islamic heritage.

Haque warned that if BNP goes against the referendum that led to its formation, it would be seen as the only party in the world to betray such a process. He further criticized the government for growing unrest and the presence of weapons in educational institutions, saying the authorities would bear full responsibility if the situation worsens.

The rally also featured speeches from leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizen Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, and other allied political groups.

The central committee of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (BNP’s student wing) has formed a four-member investigation committee following an incident involving journalists near Dhaka University. The decision was announced on Friday, April 24, 2026, through a press release signed by the organization’s office secretary, Md. Jahangir Alam. The statement described the attack on journalists as an undesirable event.

According to the release, the incident occurred a day earlier near Shahbagh Police Station, reportedly linked to a controversial Facebook post. Some leaders and activists of the Chhatra Dal were accused of involvement in the altercation with media workers. The committee includes central and Dhaka University unit leaders, led by Vice President Zahid Raihan Ahmed, with instructions to submit a written report within five days.

The directive for the investigation was issued by Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir. The committee’s findings are expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine any organizational action.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that Lebanon’s goal is to end Israeli occupation and bring back security and prosperity across the country. He made the remarks in an interview with Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Anba, which was later published by Lebanon’s state news agency on April 24, 2026.

Salam emphasized that his government is working to secure both internal strength and international support, particularly from Arab nations, to overcome the country’s current difficulties. He described a sense of emerging hope in Lebanon despite the sensitivity and challenges of the situation, urging the nation to seize this opportunity to move toward solutions.

According to the prime minister, the Lebanese government remains active in seeking Arab backing to navigate ongoing crises and restore stability nationwide.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), stated that power politics is re-emerging in Bangladesh’s universities and that institutions are being increasingly politicized. Speaking on Friday afternoon at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Dhaka, he said that after the July uprising, tendencies of inequality and partisanship have grown again across the country. He warned that if attempts are made to sustain fascism or authoritarianism, people will once again unite under the NCP’s banner.

Nahid Islam described the NCP as a political party born out of the historical struggle of the July uprising. He said the party aims to harness youth energy to bring reform and transformation to Bangladesh. According to him, the NCP has received overwhelming support nationwide and seeks to build an organized political force that reflects the aspirations of the young generation, ensures employment, eliminates inequality, and establishes democracy.

He also alleged that the government has turned the recent election into a mere power transition, separating it from the legacy of the July uprising, and that key constitutional reform proposals are being gradually dismissed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly confirmed that he was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer and has completed treatment. In a statement on Friday, April 24, 2026, he said the cancer was detected following prostate surgery he underwent in late 2024. The 76-year-old leader revealed that the tumor was identified after his prostate gland had enlarged, and he has since finished medical treatment.

Netanyahu kept the diagnosis secret during a period of heightened conflict with Iran, only disclosing it now through his annual health report. He explained that after a successful operation for a non-harmful prostate issue about a year and a half ago, doctors later found a small, less than one-centimeter mark that turned out to be an early-stage cancerous tumor. He emphasized that the cancer had not spread elsewhere in his body.

Following treatment, Netanyahu stated that he has fully recovered and is currently in very good health. He said he chose active treatment over observation, citing his preference to confront risks quickly both in state affairs and personal life.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan alleged that the ruling Awami League’s student wing, Chhatra League, has reintroduced a reign of terror on campuses similar to past incidents. He made the remarks on Friday afternoon at a joining ceremony of leaders from various political parties at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Dhaka.

Mahmud said the struggle to establish merit- and qualification-based politics is ongoing and must continue nationwide. He urged NCP members to strengthen organizational capacity and invite respected individuals not associated with fascism or atrocities to join the party. He also emphasized the importance of converting public support into votes in the upcoming local government elections to build what he called a “new Bangladesh.”

Mahmud further criticized the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), claiming it now follows the political culture of the Awami League and the ideology of the 1972 Constitution, making it indistinguishable from the ruling party.

Leaders and activists of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (Raksu) and various hall unions held a protest march on Thursday condemning the recent attack on Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Daksu) leaders and members of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association. The procession began in front of the Raksu office, paraded through key campus roads, and ended at the starting point, with participants chanting slogans demanding justice and accountability.

Raksu’s assistant general secretary Salman Sabbir denounced the attack as premeditated and urged authorities to identify and punish those responsible. Senate member Fahim Reza warned against growing unrest on campuses and called for maintaining peace and respect for elected representatives. Raksu vice president Mostakur Rahman Zahid said the assault targeted not only one organization but also students, journalists, employees, and traders, warning of larger movements if justice is not ensured.

Around three hundred students joined the demonstration, which emphasized unity among students and a demand for campus safety and accountability.

Md. Selim Uddin has called on party leaders and activists to prepare for a street movement, asserting that political struggle will continue both in parliament and on the streets. He claimed that the current government has lost its moral right to remain in power. Selim Uddin made these remarks on Thursday while addressing a unit representative conference at the Women’s Voluntary Association in Lalmatia, Dhaka, organized by the Mohammadpur East branch of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

During his speech, Selim Uddin alleged that the government raised fuel prices only hours after promising not to do so, describing it as evidence of inconsistency in its stance. He also accused the authorities of manipulating the national election results, claiming that the parliamentary seats won by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were actually due to Jamaat and were altered through electoral engineering.

The conference was presided over by Mohammadpur East Jamaat Amir Mashiur Rahman and conducted by Secretary Anisur Rahman, with central Majlis-e-Shura member Ziaul Hasan and Banani Central Mosque Khatib Maulana Abul Kalam Azad also addressing the event.