Syria has launched its first judicial proceedings against ousted president Bashar al-Assad and senior members of his former government. The public hearing began at 11 a.m. on Sunday in Damascus, marking the start of trials under the interim government. Only one defendant, Atef Najib, Assad’s cousin and a former brigadier general, appeared in court. Najib, who once headed the political security branch in Daraa province, was brought in handcuffed and placed in a cage inside the courtroom.

Najib is accused of leading crackdowns and arrests in Daraa in 2011, when teenagers were detained and tortured for anti-government graffiti, sparking nationwide protests that escalated into a 13-year civil war. The conflict ended with Assad’s downfall on December 8, 2024, leaving over half a million dead and displacing hundreds of thousands. Assad fled to Russia after his ouster, along with many close allies.

The court set May 10 for the next hearing. Other defendants to be tried in person include Assad’s relative Wasim al-Assad, former Grand Mufti Ahmed Badruddin Hassoun, and several military and security officials arrested in recent months.

A van driver named Nasir Sheikh was injured in a parcel bomb explosion in Kushtia’s Lihini Bottola area on Monday night. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. when Nasir, a resident of Lihini Karmakar Para, was delivering a parcel given by two unidentified men. Police recovered several items, including batteries, from the scene. Nasir was admitted to Kushtia 250-bed General Hospital for treatment.

According to eyewitnesses, two unknown individuals hired Nasir for 30 taka to deliver a parcel to the house of Hamidul Islam in Lihini Jowardar Para. When Hamidul refused to accept it, Nasir returned to Lihini Bottola and opened the parcel in front of several locals. Upon opening a wooden box inside, it exploded, damaging a nearby fruit shop’s refrigerator. Hospital officials said Nasir sustained lower-body injuries but is out of danger.

Kushtia’s Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Faisal Mahmud confirmed the explosion and said evidence had been collected, though those responsible have not yet been identified.

Two political activists were shot dead in Raozan upazila of Chattogram within two days, marking the latest in a series of violent incidents. Since the February 12 election, four murders have occurred in two months, and over the past 21 months since August 2024, a total of 23 killings have been recorded in the area, 19 of which are reported to be politically motivated. Most victims were affiliated with the BNP and its associated organizations.

Local residents describe Raozan as a hotspot of armed violence, where illegal weapons are widespread and rival gangs compete for dominance. Police Superintendent Nazir Ahmed Khan stated that most killings stem from disputes over control of sand and soil businesses in Raozan and Rangunia. He said suspects have been arrested in each case, including three linked to the latest murder, and pledged intensified operations to curb terrorism.

Analysts and human rights activists have criticized law enforcement for failing to restore order, arguing that the prolonged violence reflects administrative weakness and possible political interference.

In Syedpur of Nilphamari, unpaid electricity bills in 24 Bihari camps have reached Tk 66 crore as of February 2026, creating a prolonged dispute over who should bear the cost. Despite repeated letters from the local electricity office to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, no resolution has been reached. The ministry has stated it will only pay bills up to 2016, arguing that camp residents are now Bangladeshi citizens and must pay their own bills.

Field visits revealed that while each camp has a government-installed meter, many residents also use direct connections from nearby poles without meters. The camps consume about Tk 50 lakh worth of electricity monthly. Officials warn that continuous power use is maintained to prevent fire hazards from illegal connections.

Local leaders and rights activists attribute the crisis to poor planning and lack of formal integration of the camps into the city structure. They say the government is losing revenue while residents face safety risks. Camp representatives have called for dignified rehabilitation to resolve the issue permanently.

A small passenger aircraft operated by Citilink Aviation crashed southwest of Juba, the capital of South Sudan, on Monday, April 27, 2026, killing all 14 people on board, including the pilot. The Cessna 208 Caravan had departed from Yei for Juba International Airport and lost contact with air traffic control shortly after takeoff, according to the country’s Civil Aviation Authority cited by Al Jazeera.

Authorities suspect that poor weather and low visibility caused the crash. A team was dispatched to collect information and provide emergency assistance at the site. Joseph Lukak Charles, head of the South Sudan Red Cross Juba branch, said rescuers faced difficulties reaching the remote mountainous area and continued recovery efforts until the afternoon. He added that the victims’ bodies were badly burned, making identification difficult.

The aircraft took off at 9:15 a.m. local time and lost contact at 9:43 a.m. Among the dead were 12 South Sudanese nationals and two Kenyan citizens.

A tube well installation in Dheoban village of Rajnagar upazila, Moulvibazar, was stopped after gas began emerging from the pipe instead of water at a depth of 55 feet. The incident occurred on Saturday at the home of a farmer named Kipend in Ward No. 2 of Panchgaon Union. Workers noticed the unusual emission and informed the homeowner, who then advised relocating the drilling site. However, the same phenomenon occurred again, prompting workers to stop the work and fill the hole with soil.

The unexpected gas release caused concern and curiosity among local residents. Acting chairman of Panchgaon Union Parishad, Jubel Ahmed Russel, visited the site after receiving reports. Following the advice of the upazila executive officer, the drilling work was suspended to avoid potential risks.

Upazila executive officer Bipul Sikder stated that the administration is closely monitoring the situation and has contacted Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX), sending them video footage and photographs for assessment.

Police in Narayanganj have arrested six teenagers accused of murdering 11-year-old Hossain to satisfy a perverse curiosity about experiencing prison life. The killing took place in Fatullah, where the group allegedly planned the act to understand the criminal world. Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman Munshi disclosed the arrests at a press conference on Monday, noting that the main accused, 18-year-old Yasin, has given a confessional statement in court.

According to police, the teenagers used to gather and consume drugs at an abandoned house near Fatullah railway station. Driven by the desire to know what it feels like to go to jail, they decided to kill someone. They lured Hossain, who sold flowers with his father, to an abandoned house in Dapa Idrakpur Bank Colony by offering him marijuana. There, the group stabbed him to death and left the body.

Hossain went missing on April 18, and his decomposed body was recovered on April 23. Police later arrested the suspects and recovered the murder weapon. One more suspect remains at large. Experts have described the incident as a grave warning about rising violent tendencies among youths.

International crude oil prices continued to rise as diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran to ease tensions remained stalled. As of 00:51 GMT, Brent crude futures for June delivery increased by 45 cents, or 0.4 percent, reaching $108.68 per barrel. The previous session saw a 2.8 percent gain, marking the seventh consecutive day of upward movement. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate crude for June delivery rose by 58 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $96.96 per barrel after a 2.1 percent increase the day before.

Analysts attributed the sustained price rise to geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East and the deadlock in US-Iran discussions, which have raised concerns about potential supply disruptions. These factors have maintained upward pressure on oil prices in global markets.

The ongoing instability in the region and lack of diplomatic progress suggest that volatility in energy markets may persist if the situation remains unresolved.

Fuel loading of uranium officially begins today, Tuesday, at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi, Pabna. The event marks a major milestone as the country’s first nuclear power facility moves toward test production of electricity. The ceremony will be attended by Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam as chief guest, along with ministry officials and Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Russia’s Rosatom.

According to a senior official from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangladesh received a license on April 16 to load nuclear fuel after meeting all safety and monitoring requirements set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The fuel loading process for the first unit is expected to take at least 45 days.

The ministry official added that test electricity generation from the first unit could begin in early August, initially supplying 300 megawatts to the national grid. Full-capacity generation of 1,200 megawatts is targeted by January 2027.

The United States is reviewing a new peace proposal from Iran aimed at easing tensions and resolving the deadlock in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Al Jazeera, White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt said President Donald Trump discussed the proposal in detail with his national security team on Monday, April 27. However, no final decision has been made yet.

The proposal, sent through Pakistan’s mediation, emphasizes ending the ongoing conflict and ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz for global trade. It also leaves room for potential future discussions on Iran’s nuclear program. Levitt noted that while the proposal is under consideration, President Trump’s core position remains unchanged.

The review signals a cautious approach by Washington as it weighs diplomatic options amid persistent regional tensions and global concerns over maritime stability in the Gulf.

Field-level administrative officials across Bangladesh have submitted 1,729 proposals to the Cabinet Division ahead of the upcoming Deputy Commissioners (DC) Conference scheduled for May 3–6 in Dhaka. Among the proposals are calls for constructing the Padma Barrage to protect the southwest region from the effects of India’s Farakka Barrage, improving law enforcement to combat drug trafficking, and ensuring stable fuel and electricity supplies. The Cabinet Division has reviewed the submissions and accepted 498 proposals for discussion at the conference.

The event will be the first DC Conference under the new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, following the BNP’s electoral victory on April 17. The government expects the conference to strengthen coordination between central policymakers and field administrators. Discussions will cover 56 ministries and agencies across 34 sessions, focusing on public service delivery, infrastructure, disaster management, poverty reduction, and local governance.

State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari said the government prioritizes integrity, competence, and neutrality in administrative appointments, emphasizing that officials must serve citizens rather than political interests.

Five struggling Islamic banks—Exim, Social Islami, First Security Islami, Union, and Global Islami—were merged under the interim government to form the state-owned Sammilit Islami Bank. However, the bank’s chairman has resigned, and the appointed managing director has not joined. In the two months since the new government took office, no progress has been made on leadership appointments, branch consolidation, or IT integration, leaving depositors anxious about the bank’s future.

The merger was initiated under the 2025 Bank Resolution Ordinance, with the government contributing Tk 20,000 crore in capital and depositors receiving Tk 15,000 crore in shares. Yet, a recent legal amendment allowing former owners to regain control has reignited depositor unrest. Administrators report stalled operations, rising withdrawal pressure, and a lack of clear direction from Bangladesh Bank. Governor Mostakur Rahman has acknowledged that the government has not reached a final decision on the banks’ fate.

Experts warn that prolonged indecision could worsen financial instability. They stress that any move to return ownership to previous controllers must ensure accountability for past mismanagement and protect depositor confidence.

At least 29 people were killed when militants attacked sleeping villagers in Guyaku village, Adamawa State, Nigeria, on Sunday night. The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the assault through a message on Telegram. According to government sources, armed militants entered the village in several groups and opened fire indiscriminately, killing many on the spot and injuring others. Several houses were also set on fire as terrified residents fled for safety.

Police arrived at the scene after receiving reports and took the injured to a local hospital. On Monday, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri visited the site and condemned the incident as a cowardly attack. In a separate incident the same day, armed assailants stormed an orphanage in Lokoja, Kogi State, abducting 23 teenagers. Police later rescued 15 of them, while the search for the remaining missing youths continues. No group has claimed responsibility for the abductions.

Authorities are continuing rescue operations and investigations into both attacks, which have heightened security concerns in the affected regions.

At least four people were killed and several dozen injured when two trains collided near Jakarta, Indonesia, on Monday. According to state media reports cited by international outlets, the crash occurred close to Bekasi Timur Station on the outskirts of the capital when a long-distance train struck a stationary local train from behind. Several carriages were severely damaged in the impact.

Footage broadcast by local media showed rescuers working to free passengers trapped inside the wreckage, with many being carried to hospitals on stretchers. Authorities fear the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue. The spokesperson for Indonesia’s state railway operator, KAI, confirmed four deaths and said 38 people had been rescued and sent to nearby hospitals. He expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

The cause of the collision has not yet been detailed, and officials continue to assess the extent of the damage and injuries.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Health has reported that 2,521 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory since the assaults began on March 2 this year. The updated figures, released through the National News Agency (NNA) on Monday, also indicate that 7,804 individuals have been injured during the same period.

Although a ceasefire is officially in effect between Israel and Lebanon, the truce is becoming increasingly fragile. According to the NNA, at least 22 people have been killed in Israeli strikes over the past two days despite the ongoing ceasefire. The situation has drawn growing concern from the international community.

Analysts cited in the report suggest that while the ceasefire exists on paper, hostilities have not fully stopped and the region appears to be sliding back toward instability.