Iran has asserted that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) now holds complete military control over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Reports from the southern 'Red Beach' area of Hormuz Island indicate that security measures in the region have been significantly strengthened. Iranian authorities stated that any movement through this narrow maritime passage must be coordinated with Iran’s military and the IRGC.

According to the IRGC Navy, its authority and operational reach over the strait are being expanded. Iran has declared that no military or warships will be allowed to pass through the strait without permission. Friendly nations’ vessels may be granted passage, but ships from hostile countries will be denied transit. Over the past few days, around 30 to 40 ships, mostly owned by Chinese companies, reportedly crossed the strait, though no new vessel movements were recorded in the last 24 hours.

The announcement underscores Iran’s intent to assert greater control over one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, with potential implications for regional navigation and security.

Mohsen Rezaei, a member of Iran’s Expediency Council and former commander of the Revolutionary Guards, has issued a stern warning to the United States to lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports. Speaking on Iranian state television, Rezaei said the US military should end the blockade before the Oman Sea becomes their graveyard. He described the blockade as a hostile act and asserted that Tehran has the right to resist it.

Rezaei stated that Iran’s armed forces are fully prepared for any conflict, while diplomatic efforts continue. He added that the longer the blockade continues, the greater the global economic damage will be. Rezaei also said the US must prove through actions that it is trustworthy in any peace discussions.

The United States imposed the naval blockade on April 13, with President Donald Trump declaring it would remain until Iran agrees to a peace deal under US terms. Tehran has firmly rejected the pressure, insisting it will not bow to American demands.

Former CIA Director and US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began lobbying for an attack on Iran as early as 2009. The disclosure came in an Al Jazeera report published Monday, where Gates recalled his interactions with Netanyahu during that period. Gates said that in July 2009, Netanyahu told him Iran’s regime was fragile and would collapse after a first strike.

Gates rejected Netanyahu’s assessment at the time, arguing that the Israeli leader underestimated Iran’s resilience and capacity to recover. He linked Netanyahu’s stance to Israel’s previous limited-response attacks in the Middle East, including the 1981 strike on Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor and the 2007 attack on a Syrian nuclear facility.

According to Gates, those earlier incidents may have shaped an unrealistic perception within Israel about how Iran might respond to a similar assault.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, head of France’s left-wing party La France Insoumise, has accused Europe of complicity in the escalating conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. In a post on social media platform X, he claimed that the broader regional war triggered by U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran has been made possible through European cooperation or partnership.

Mélenchon alleged that former U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s threats to destroy Iran are sustained by Europe’s involvement. He said global peace is now held hostage to what he described as the colonial interests of Trump and Netanyahu. As a declared candidate for France’s 2027 presidential election, Mélenchon urged voters to end France’s alliance with what he called “these criminals” and to break free from “the chains of servitude.”

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, come amid heightened regional tensions following military actions against Iran and continuing violence in Gaza.

A Rajshahi divisional special judge court on Sunday sentenced former Godagari Upazila cooperative officer Nripendranath Das to five years in prison in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The verdict was delivered by Judge Mostafa Pavel Raihan. The conviction includes two years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 5,000 taka under Section 161 of the Penal Code, and three years of rigorous imprisonment with an 8,000 taka fine under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

According to the case details, on May 14, 2019, Abdul Baten applied to register the Sharamangla Ekata Fish Farmers Cooperative Society in Godagari municipality. During the registration process, the then cooperative officer Nripendranath Das demanded a bribe of 15,000 taka, of which 7,000 taka was initially paid. After the complaint was lodged, an ACC team set a trap and caught him red-handed while receiving the remaining 8,000 taka at his office.

Following his arrest, Das was handed over to Godagari police, and a case was filed against him. The court later delivered its verdict based on the investigation and evidence presented.

A major loan fraud has been uncovered in five merged Islamic banks in Bangladesh, where 75 percent of loans were issued without collateral. The banks—Exim, Social Islami, First Security Islami, Union, and Global Islami—distributed loans without meeting minimum requirements, leading to massive defaults and failure to repay depositors. The government merged the banks into a new entity, Sammilit Islami Bank, after depositors faced losses. Around Tk 4,000 crore has already been paid to customers from the deposit insurance fund.

According to Bangladesh Bank data, as of December, the five banks had total loans of Tk 1.95 trillion, with collateral covering only 24.56 percent. Defaulted loans reached Tk 1.705 trillion, or 87.43 percent of total loans. The S. Alam Group alone took Tk 1.016 trillion, more than half of total loans, mostly without collateral. Former BAB chairman Nazrul Islam Majumder’s firms borrowed Tk 17.96 billion. Officials said bank insiders aided the process by overvaluing collateral.

The interim government formed Sammilit Islami Bank with Tk 35,000 crore paid-up capital, including Tk 20,000 crore from the state. However, uncertainty over the return of previous owners and lack of clear government communication have renewed depositor anxiety.

Iran has declared that it will not bow to U.S. threats or warnings, asserting that Tehran is fully prepared for any situation. The statement came after U.S. President Donald Trump warned on his social media platform that Iran’s time was running out and urged immediate action, otherwise facing consequences. In response, Iranian officials rejected any notion of compromise and emphasized defiance.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday afternoon, a spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces warned that any new conflict would bring severe and destructive consequences for the United States. He added that any fresh aggression against Iran would trigger unexpected and highly offensive countermeasures targeting U.S. assets and bases in the region.

The tone between the two nations has grown increasingly harsh, with Tehran framing its stance as defensive preparedness rather than escalation. However, the rising rhetoric on both sides is narrowing the space for diplomatic dialogue, according to the report.

In West Bengal, India, new cattle slaughter restrictions imposed by the recently formed BJP-led state government have triggered widespread unrest ahead of Eid al-Adha. The directive enforces strict certification requirements under the 1950 West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act and a 2018 High Court order, allowing slaughter only for animals over 14 years old or permanently unfit for work or breeding. Public slaughter is banned, and violations carry fines or jail terms. As a result, cattle markets have emptied, with traders and buyers avoiding legal risks.

The crisis has hit Hindu cattle farmers hardest, many of whom raise cattle year-round on loans expecting Eid sales. With markets frozen, they face mounting debt and losses, some publicly threatening suicide and demanding the government or Prime Minister Narendra Modi buy their unsold cattle. Opposition figures and local legislators have criticized the age-verification rule as impractical, questioning how authorities can determine a cow’s age without birth records.

Critics also highlight a policy contradiction: while small farmers face restrictions, India remains one of the world’s top beef exporters, earning billions annually from corporate meat exports, raising questions about fairness in livestock policy.

The banned Awami League is reportedly attempting to reorganize and return to political activity despite ongoing restrictions. The party has begun forming new committees at various levels and is focusing on issues such as the measles vaccine controversy and agreements with the United States to influence public opinion. It has also initiated legal actions against Dr. Muhammad Yunus and his former interim government, seeking to discredit them and demand their trial. Political analysts believe these issue-based campaigns could evolve into broader anti-government movements if not contained.

Government authorities have maintained strict surveillance and arrests to prevent the group’s resurgence, while Awami League supporters abroad and some professional groups have called for lifting the political ban. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reportedly communicated online with party members, encouraging organizational revival and hinting at her return to Bangladesh within the year. Several new committees have already been formed, and social media activity has intensified.

Analysts note that despite the ban and public resentment, Awami League retains influence through professional and local networks. However, continued law enforcement pressure and anti-fascist political unity make a full-scale comeback difficult in the near term.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has renewed his call for families to have more children, labeling birth control a 'betrayal' and the country's declining birthrate a 'disaster.' Throughout his 23-year political career, Erdogan has promoted traditional family roles and urged couples to have at least three, preferably four or five, children. He argues that a higher birthrate will make Turkey stronger in the future. However, Turkey’s fertility rate has dropped well below the replacement level of 2.1, reaching a record low of 1.48 in 2024.

Demographers attribute the decline to urbanization, lifestyle changes, and women’s access to higher education, as well as economic hardship caused by inflation and low wages. Despite government incentives such as extended parental leave, cash bonuses, and interest-free marriage loans, many families say the support is insufficient amid rising living costs. Parents interviewed described struggling to afford housing, childcare, and basic needs.

Analysts note that Erdogan’s push reflects both economic and conservative Islamic motivations. Experts doubt the new incentives will reverse the trend, as younger Turks increasingly prioritize education, careers, and smaller families. The government has declared 2025 the “Year of the Family” and launched a decade-long population initiative through 2035.

Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, has suggested that Iran appoint a special envoy to Moscow, similar to its recent appointment of a special envoy to China. Ulyanov made the suggestion in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Russian diplomat, known for his outspoken views on X, made the remark while quoting a report about Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf being named as Tehran’s special envoy to China. Referring to that appointment, Ulyanov wrote that it might be equally relevant for Iran to consider a similar arrangement for its relations with Russia.

The comment, reported by Al Jazeera, highlights ongoing diplomatic discussions about strengthening Iran’s bilateral ties with major powers such as China and Russia, though no official Iranian response to Ulyanov’s suggestion was mentioned in the report.

Yemen’s Houthi military leadership has reiterated its support for Palestinian armed groups following the reported death of a senior Hamas commander in Gaza. In a message shared on Telegram, Houthi Chief of Staff Yusuf Hassan al-Madani described the death of Hamas commander Izz al-Din al-Haddad as a major loss for the Palestinian movement and the wider region.

Al-Madani stated that the Houthis’ joint efforts with Hamas and its allied groups would continue, pledging that their support would remain until victory is achieved. The message underscores the Houthis’ ongoing alignment with Palestinian factions amid continuing regional tensions.

The statement, reported by Al Jazeera, reflects the Houthis’ consistent political stance in favor of Palestinian resistance movements and signals their intent to maintain solidarity despite recent developments in Gaza.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei shared a video clip from the 2024 biopic “The Apprentice” on social media, mocking US President Donald Trump. The film depicts Trump’s early career, and the selected scene shows his adviser Roy Cohn outlining his ‘rules for winning,’ including always claiming victory and never admitting defeat, as well as being ready to do anything with anyone to succeed.

The post is part of a broader wave of ridicule and criticism directed at the US president from Iranian officials and their supporters online. Through this campaign, they also mocked what they described as Trump’s widely criticized and weak attack plans. Baghaei has previously referenced literary and historical figures in his commentary, including Aimé Césaire and Persian poet Fariduddin Attar, in a column for Al Jazeera criticizing US policy.

The video post underscores Tehran’s continued use of cultural and symbolic references to challenge and satirize US leadership in international discourse.

Bangladesh maintained firm control over Pakistan in the Sylhet Test, ending the second day with a 156-run overall lead. After dismissing Pakistan for 232 in their first innings, Bangladesh reached 110 for three in their second innings, adding to their 46-run first-innings advantage. The hosts aim to bat through the third day to build an insurmountable total. Pakistan’s batting struggles continued, with only Babar Azam showing resistance through a composed 68, while the rest of the middle order faltered again.

Bangladesh’s bowlers dominated early, with Taskin Ahmed taking two wickets in his first two overs, supported by Nahid Rana, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Taijul Islam, who dismantled Pakistan’s middle and lower order. Despite Khurram Shahzad’s earlier optimism about scoring 400-plus, Pakistan collapsed for 232. Bangladesh’s openers had mixed fortunes, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy scoring a half-century after a first-innings duck, while debutant Tanzid Hasan Tamim managed only 26 and 4.

As the match heads into the third day, Pakistan face a daunting task to recover, with their confidence visibly shaken and Bangladesh poised to push for a decisive victory.

A Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) commander and his teenage daughter were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the eastern Lebanese city of Baalbek. The attack occurred around midnight on Monday near the city’s southern entrance, targeting a residential apartment. Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that a guided missile struck the building, killing PIJ commander Wael Abdul Hali and his 17-year-old daughter Rima.

Following the strike, panic spread through the area as rescue operations were launched around the damaged building. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident. The report did not mention any additional casualties or damage beyond the targeted apartment.

In recent months, Israeli attacks along the Lebanon border have intensified. The escalation is linked to the ongoing Gaza war, which has triggered repeated exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and various armed groups operating in the region.