Hezbollah has rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s accusation that the group violated the ceasefire in Lebanon. In a statement on Telegram, Hezbollah instead accused Israel of breaking the truce from the very beginning and warned against involving the Lebanese government in any bilateral agreements between Washington and Netanyahu. The group stated that Lebanon had no role or position in the ceasefire process.

According to Hezbollah, Israeli forces have continuously violated the temporary ceasefire since its first day by gathering troops in occupied territories and carrying out bombings in northern Palestinian settlements. The group described its attacks as legitimate responses to Israeli aggression. Hezbollah also claimed that Israel’s intensified assaults in southern Lebanon reflect disregard for international law and conventions.

The statement added that Lebanese authorities had hoped the ceasefire extension would halt destruction and bombings in southern Lebanon, but Israel’s actions have instead escalated. Hezbollah signaled that it will continue resistance against Israel’s frequent attacks in the region.

Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah left the field injured during Liverpool’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace, raising speculation that it might have been his final appearance for the club. Salah was substituted in the 59th minute after suffering a hamstring injury and waved to the crowd as he exited, a gesture many interpreted as a farewell. Liverpool coach Arne Slot said the severity of the injury was still uncertain, but with only a few weeks left in the season, Salah’s return appears doubtful.

Egypt national team director Ibrahim Hassan stated that Salah could need around four weeks to recover, suggesting he may have already played his last match for Liverpool. The forward is expected to end his nine-year spell with the club at the conclusion of the current season. Since joining from AS Roma in 2017, Salah has scored 257 goals in 435 appearances, ranking third among Liverpool’s all-time top scorers. However, his current season’s performance has been below par, with only seven league goals.

The uncertainty now centers on whether Salah will recover in time to play again for Liverpool or if his farewell has already taken place.

Police in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, arrested a local BNP leader named Salauddin, aged 55, on Sunday following allegations of extortion and vandalism. Salauddin, who serves as the general secretary of Ward No. 1 BNP, was detained after police verified the complaint and later sent to court, according to Siddhirganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Emdadul Haque.

The arrest followed a written complaint filed on Friday by fruit seller Md. Azizul Haque, who alleged that Salauddin and several others assaulted him for failing to pay extortion money during his illness. The group allegedly damaged his shop and destroyed fruits worth about 80,000 taka. Azizul Haque also claimed that the accused threatened to kill him and his son, leaving him in fear.

Police stated that preliminary investigation confirmed the validity of the complaint, leading to Salauddin’s arrest and court appearance.

A three-member delegation from the United States Embassy in Dhaka met with Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed, Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, on Sunday. The meeting focused on finalizing policies to facilitate dual degree programs, joint research initiatives, and faculty and student exchange programs between universities in Bangladesh and the United States.

Discussions also covered the participation of a UGC delegation in the upcoming Association of International Educators Convention in the United States, online verification of Bangladeshi university certificates, and expanding opportunities for Bangladeshi students under the jointly funded Fulbright Program. The U.S. delegation included Public Affairs Counselor Monica Sai, American Center Public Engagement Director Scott Hartman, and Public Diplomacy Specialist Rayhana Sultana.

Both sides expressed that enhanced cooperation would benefit the higher education sectors of Bangladesh and the United States.

Syria has launched its first public trial against officials linked to the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad. According to the state news agency SANA, the proceedings began on Sunday in Damascus, where Atef Najib, a former brigadier general and Assad’s cousin, appeared in court. Najib, who once headed the political security branch in Daraa province, faces charges of committing crimes against the Syrian people.

In 2011, Najib held that position when teenagers were arrested and tortured for anti-government graffiti in Daraa, an incident that sparked mass protests against Assad’s security forces. The government’s violent crackdown escalated into a 14-year civil war, which ended in December 2024 after Assad was ousted in a surprise offensive by armed opposition forces. Assad later fled to Russia, along with many of his close associates.

The case also names Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and several senior security officials, all charged in absentia. Najib is the only one arrested and presented before the court. The initial hearing took place on Sunday and will resume next month, with citizens gathering outside the court to welcome the start of the trial.

A Dhaka court has sentenced Sayed Ahmed to death for killing his wife Rehana Begum over dowry demands in Kamrangirchar about fifteen years ago. The verdict was delivered on Sunday, April 26, 2026, by Judge Munshi Md. Moshiar Rahman of Dhaka’s Fourth Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal. Along with the death penalty, the court imposed a fine of two lakh taka and ordered that the amount be realized by selling Sayed’s movable and immovable property to be given to the victim’s son.

According to the case details, Sayed married Rehana on June 25, 2010, and soon began pressuring her for dowry and property transfer. On September 29, 2012, Rehana’s mother found her daughter dead at home with red marks on her face. Despite initial police refusal to register a case, she later filed one with the tribunal. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) later investigated and charged Sayed, while his brother Shafi Ahmed was cleared of involvement.

The tribunal heard testimony from eleven witnesses before delivering the judgment, concluding a prolonged legal process that began in 2012.

Bangladesh has achieved a new milestone in its sports history as the national women's hockey team qualified for the Asian Games for the first time. The team secured its place through the Asian Hockey Federation’s qualifying tournament held in Jakarta, where it advanced to the semifinals from Group A. Bangladesh earned seven points in three matches, finishing among the top two teams in the group to confirm its spot in the main event.

In the qualifiers, Bangladesh drew 5-5 with Chinese Taipei in their opening match, defeated Uzbekistan 2-1 in the second, and overcame Hong Kong 2-1 in the final group game after initially falling behind. The team, composed mainly of players from BKSP, demonstrated strong performance and resilience throughout the tournament.

This qualification marks the first time a Bangladeshi women’s hockey team will compete in the Asian Games, opening a new chapter for women’s sports in the country and signaling growing potential in international hockey participation.

Journalists from Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU) formed a human chain on Sunday afternoon in front of the university’s main gate to protest an attack on Dhaka University reporters allegedly carried out by leaders and activists of the student wing Chhatra Dal. The event was organized by the HSTU Journalists’ Association (Habiprobisass) and joined by members, associate members, and journalists from national and local print and electronic media. Participants demanded an environment that ensures freedom of journalism.

Speakers at the protest said that attacks on journalists are not only assaults on a professional group but also direct threats to free media, freedom of expression, and democratic values. They called for immediate identification and exemplary punishment of those involved in the attack. Representatives urged the government to stand by journalists who have faced similar incidents and ensure justice.

Habiprobisass leaders also appealed to the student organization to take prompt action against the accused and emphasized the need for a safe campus environment and stronger protection for journalists.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said it will take several months for the global oil market to return to normal even after the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. He made the remarks in an interview with Russia’s VGTRK broadcaster, according to Anadolu, noting that the Middle East crisis has caused a severe shortage of energy resources worldwide.

Novak explained that a large volume of oil has not reached the market and many ships remain stranded in the Hormuz Strait, making it difficult to restore balance quickly. He estimated that normal conditions could take months to reestablish.

The report recalled that Tehran took full control of the Strait of Hormuz on February 28 after a U.S.-Israel attack on Iran, disrupting global energy supplies across Asia. Although the conflict is currently suspended, efforts continue to achieve a lasting resolution.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is becoming meaningless due to Hezbollah’s actions. Speaking at his weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu claimed that Hezbollah’s violations of the agreement’s terms are effectively nullifying the truce.

The ceasefire, extended last Thursday for another three weeks, was intended to ease hostilities between the two sides. However, reports indicate that renewed tension and reciprocal attacks have followed the extension. Hezbollah has rejected Israel’s accusations as baseless, instead accusing Israeli forces of breaching the ceasefire by continuing attacks and maintaining positions inside Lebanese territory.

Hezbollah stated that its operations are defensive responses to Israeli violations. The exchange of accusations underscores the fragility of the extended ceasefire and the persistent volatility along the Israel-Lebanon border.

A newly married couple, Mahfuz (20) and Monika Begum (18), died by suicide after consuming poison in Mirzapur village of Rafinagar Union, Dirai upazila, Sunamganj. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. on Sunday, five months after their marriage. Mahfuz’s father, Azizur Rahman, discovered the couple unconscious in the kitchen after returning from work and took them to the local health complex, where Monika was declared dead. Mahfuz was later transferred to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, where he also died while undergoing treatment.

According to local sources, Mahfuz worked in the garment sector and had married Monika out of love, with both families later accepting the union. Dirai Police Station Officer-in-Charge Enamul Haque Chowdhury confirmed the incident and said the cause of the poisoning remains unknown. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the motive behind the suicide.

Police stated that the actual reason for the couple’s decision will be confirmed after the investigation concludes.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard detained six alleged smugglers along with 550 sacks of cement intended for smuggling into Myanmar. The operation was conducted on Saturday near Noachiri, off the coast of Maheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar, by the Coast Guard’s Matarbari station. Two boats used in the smuggling attempt were also seized during the operation.

According to Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Suman Al Mukit, the raid was carried out based on a tip-off. The cement, valued at approximately 275,000 taka, was being transferred illegally from a cargo boat to a fishing boat when intercepted. The seized goods, boats, and detained individuals are currently under legal processing.

Lieutenant Commander Mukit stated that such anti-smuggling operations will continue in the future to curb illegal trade along the coastal areas.

Twelve people were killed in lightning strikes across several districts of Bangladesh on Sunday during storms and heavy rain. The highest number of casualties occurred in Gaibandha, where five people, including two teenagers, died and one person was injured. The incidents took place in Sundarganj’s Dakshin Dhopadanga village and Saghata upazila. Witnesses said the lightning struck around 4:30 p.m. while the victims were standing near a road during the storm. The injured person was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

In addition to the deaths in Gaibandha, two people died in Sirajganj, two in Jamalpur, one in Bogura, one in Singra of Natore, and one in Panchagarh. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that by Sunday night, a nor’wester with wind speeds of 60 to 80 kilometers per hour could sweep across 11 regions, including Dhaka, accompanied by rain or thunderstorms. River ports in affected areas were advised to hoist cautionary signal number two.

Authorities warned of further storms and advised caution for residents and river transport operators as unstable weather conditions persisted.

A new federal report shows that electricity service in the United States was disconnected 13.4 million times and gas service 1.7 million times in 2024. The data, collected under a 2023 congressional law, reveal the scale of financial distress among households unable to pay utility bills. Researchers say the figures are far higher than previously estimated, raising concerns about energy insecurity across the country.

The report highlights that southern states recorded the highest disconnection rates, with Oklahoma leading where nearly three in ten customers lost service. Other states with high rates include Texas, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Experts attribute the surge to high poverty levels, rising energy prices, long hot seasons, and weak consumer protections. The Trump administration has again proposed eliminating the $4 billion LIHEAP program that helps low-income Americans pay energy bills, though Congress has previously rejected such moves.

Analysts warn that the situation may worsen, as electricity prices rose by more than 11 percent nationwide in 2025. Consumer groups are calling for stricter limits on utility profits and stronger rules to prevent service disconnections.

A 35-year-old man named Suman died after being struck by lightning in Gabtali upazila of Bogura on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred in Muchikhali village under Sonarai Union when Suman went to bring his goats from a nearby field amid stormy weather. Shortly after he reached the field, a loud thunderbolt struck, leaving him severely burned and dead on the spot.

Police confirmed the incident, stating that a team visited the scene soon after receiving the report. Gabtali Police Station’s investigation officer Md. Abu Musa said the body was handed over to the family after a preliminary examination. The victim was identified as the son of Md. Abdul Karim of the same village.

The report highlights the tragic consequences of venturing outdoors during thunderstorms, which remain a recurring hazard in rural areas during the rainy season.