Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley stated that former President Donald Trump has no alternative but to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. She made the remarks on a CNN program on Sunday, emphasizing that failing to act against Iran would allow Tehran to gain more financial and strategic advantages, including funding proxies, purchasing ballistic missile equipment, and continuing its nuclear program.

According to a CNN report cited in the source, Trump’s plan to blockade the strait could serve as a test of Iran’s control over the key waterway. Such a move might avoid the need for risky ground troop deployments but could expose U.S. naval vessels to increased Iranian attacks. The report also noted that obstructing the strait could heighten diplomatic tensions with major powers such as China if U.S. forces attempt to stop their ships.

The issue has drawn global attention, with reports of international reactions and related developments involving Iran, the United States, and other stakeholders.

Saudi Arabia has announced that only the official Hajj visa will be valid for performing the annual pilgrimage. The country’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stated that the rule applies to all pilgrims arriving from outside Saudi Arabia. The announcement was made in a statement on Sunday, emphasizing that the Hajj visa is the sole authorized means for participating in the pilgrimage.

According to a report by Saudi Gazette, visitors holding visit, transit, Umrah, or tourist visas will not be permitted to take part in Hajj rituals. The ministry clarified that such visa holders will not receive permission to perform Hajj. For residents and citizens within Saudi Arabia, the process differs slightly, requiring them to complete bookings through the “Nusuk” application to obtain a Hajj permit.

The ministry also warned that all official reservations and bookings for Hajj must be made only through authorized channels. It cautioned against using any unauthorized or fraudulent means for securing Hajj bookings.

International activists are preparing to sail from Barcelona, Spain, in a 70-boat convoy called the Global Resilience Flotilla, aiming to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian supplies. The mission, set to depart on Sunday, includes about 1,000 volunteers from 70 countries. The vessels are carrying food, medicine, and school materials for Palestinian children. Organisers say the effort is coordinated with Palestinian civil society groups, maritime security experts, and international NGOs such as Greenpeace and Open Arms, with additional support from the Barcelona municipality.

Flotilla spokesperson Pablo Castilla said the mission seeks to condemn what organisers describe as international complicity in Israel’s actions in Gaza, demand accountability, and open humanitarian corridors by sea and land. He warned that global attention on Gaza has waned amid other regional conflicts, allowing Israel to tighten its siege and expand settlements. The Gaza Strip has been under blockade since 2007 and faces a severe humanitarian crisis following Israel’s war that began in October 2023, which has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and displaced about 1.5 million people.

This voyage follows the first Global Resilience Flotilla in 2025, which was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters. All previous flotillas since 2010 have faced similar interceptions or attacks.

The US military reported that five people were killed and one survived in its latest anti-drug operation in the eastern Pacific Ocean. According to a statement issued on Sunday, the attacks took place on April 11 against two suspected drug-trafficking vessels. The US Southern Command also released aerial footage of the operation on social media platform X, according to AFP.

The statement said that two men described as 'narco-terrorists' were killed and one survived in the first strike, while three more men labeled the same were killed in the second. However, no evidence was presented to support the drug-trafficking allegations. The military added that the total number of people killed in these operations has now reached at least 168.

The report did not provide further details about the identity of those killed or the specific location of the incidents within the eastern Pacific.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he felt like the 'owner' of the Al-Aqsa Mosque during a visit to the site in Jerusalem on Sunday. The statement came as he emphasized the need for greater access for Jewish worshippers and vowed to pressure the prime minister for further action. His remarks were made public through a video released by his office, where he added that more progress was needed.

The visit and comments occurred shortly after Israel reopened the mosque to Palestinians following more than 40 days of closure. During that period, Palestinians were barred from entering for Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, and Friday prayers.

Jordan, which oversees the Al-Aqsa compound, condemned Ben-Gvir’s visit as a violation of the status quo agreement and an unacceptable provocation. The office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned that such actions could further destabilize the situation in the region.

Iran has rejected US President Donald Trump’s threat of a naval blockade, warning that any such attempt would end in failure. Mohsen Rezaei, senior military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said the United States would face another historic defeat if it tried to block the Strait of Hormuz. He asserted that Iran’s armed forces would not allow any blockade to succeed.

The statement came after President Trump recently announced plans for a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. Rezaei added that Iran possesses “unused capabilities” sufficient to counter any threat and criticized the United States for trying to pressure Iran through tweets and imaginary plans.

Earlier, Trump claimed that peace talks with Islamabad had failed because Iran refused to abandon its nuclear ambitions, further intensifying the strategic standoff in the region.

Israeli forces have carried out new airstrikes in several areas of southern Lebanon, according to a report by Al Jazeera Arabic. The attacks targeted the city of Nabatieh and the area of Maifadoun. No immediate details were available regarding casualties or damage, and further information was expected as the situation developed.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that military operations in southern Lebanon would continue, including within so-called 'safe zones.' He made the remarks after a brief visit to areas near the border. Recent reports indicated that airstrikes around Beirut had decreased somewhat due to U.S. pressure and possible preparations for negotiations.

Despite the reduced activity near the capital, Israeli air operations have persisted across southern Lebanon, particularly in the Bint Jbeil region, underscoring the ongoing volatility along the border area.

The Chakaria upazila unit of the Bangladesh Mofossol Sangbadik Forum (BMSF) has submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the acting Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Rupayan Deb, demanding state recognition for National Media Week. The memorandum was handed over at the UNO office in Chakaria on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

According to the memorandum, although the media plays a vital role as the fourth pillar of the state and contributes significantly to democratic progress, journalists in Bangladesh still lack proper state recognition. The BMSF noted that the 10th National Media Week 2026 is scheduled to be observed from May 1 to 7, and official recognition would enhance journalists’ professional dignity while strengthening media freedom and responsibility.

Journalists from various national and regional newspapers working in Chakaria were present during the submission of the memorandum, alongside leaders of the BMSF Chakaria unit.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf declared that the country will not bow to any threats, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a blockade on all ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz. Ghalibaf made the remarks in a statement published by Iranian media while leading discussions in Pakistan.

He mocked the US decision, suggesting that Americans would soon feel nostalgic for lower gas prices. In response to Trump’s threats, Iran’s navy warned that it would take strict action against any military vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi added that during peace talks in Pakistan, the United States and Iran were very close to reaching an agreement before Tehran faced what he described as extremism, goal-shifting, and sanctions.

The exchange highlights escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington over maritime control and sanctions, with both sides signaling readiness for confrontation in the strategic waterway.

Authorities in Babuganj upazila of Barishal seized 3,000 liters of illegally stored fuel during a raid on Sunday night, April 12, 2026. The operation, led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Asma Ul Husna and based on intelligence from the National Security Intelligence (NSI), targeted two local businesses—Messrs Howlader Store and Sikdar Store. Two dealers, A. Kuddus Howlader and Md. Saidur Rahman Sikdar, were fined a total of 8,000 taka under the Essential Commodities Control Act of 1956.

Officials confiscated 2,400 liters of diesel and 600 liters of petrol, which were later auctioned to local trawler, tractor, speedboat, and auto drivers. The sale generated 309,600 taka, deposited into the government treasury. According to intelligence sources, the accused had been sourcing fuel illegally from a filling station in Barishal city and selling it at inflated prices in Babuganj.

Local authorities stated that similar operations will continue to curb illegal fuel storage and black-market trading in the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that military operations in southern Lebanon will continue, including within areas described as 'safe zones'. He made the statement after a brief visit to the border region, according to Middle East Eye. In a video message released upon his return to Israel, Netanyahu said he had received the latest briefing from the army on the ongoing operations but gave no indication of any change in military strategy.

The report noted that recent U.S. pressure and possible preparations for negotiations have led to a reduction in attacks around Beirut. However, Israeli airstrikes have persisted in several parts of southern Lebanon, particularly in the Bint Jbeil area. Lebanese officials said an ambulance belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross was hit, killing one paramedic and injuring another.

Israel stated that it is maintaining contact with the Lebanese government but is not engaging in any ceasefire discussions with Hezbollah.

Merchant banks and brokerage houses in Bangladesh are under pressure to adjust margin loans by April 30, 2026, as required by the new Margin Rules 2025. The adjustment deadline comes amid a prolonged downturn in the stock market, worsened by global instability following Iran’s attacks on the United States and Israel. Analysts warn that enforcing the adjustment now could trigger heavy selling pressure and deepen the market crisis.

In response, the DSE Brokers Association (DBA) has requested the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) to extend the adjustment deadline by three months, until July 31, 2026. The DBA’s letter to BSEC Chairman Khondkar Rashed Maksud, signed by President Saiful Islam, argues that forced adjustments during the current slump could negatively affect trading and investor confidence.

The Margin Rules 2025, effective since November 1, 2025, introduced stricter conditions on margin financing, including limits based on investment size, company category, and capital adequacy requirements. Market participants fear that forced compliance could intensify the ongoing market weakness.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has launched a sweeping operation across the Sundarbans and coastal areas to strengthen security. According to Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon, the force has arrested 61 members of various pirate groups and recovered a large cache of weapons and ammunition over the past one and a half years. The announcement was made on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

The operation, conducted under the directives of the Home Minister, includes two major initiatives titled ‘Operation Restore Peace in Sundarbans’ and ‘Operation Mangrove Shield’. It is being carried out jointly by the Coast Guard, Navy, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Police, and Forest Department. The Coast Guard has also rescued 78 fishermen and 3 tourists alive, seized illegal fishing nets, fish fry, deer meat, and traps, and detained 29 poachers.

Officials stated that the coordinated raids will continue until the Sundarbans region is completely free of piracy and illegal activities.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that several countries are actively cooperating with the United States to prevent Iran from selling oil. Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sunday, Trump said that many positive developments were taking place regarding the Strait of Hormuz. He added that a naval blockade, set to begin Monday morning, would be highly effective as other nations were now assisting in stopping Iran’s oil exports.

Trump claimed that Iran’s military was nearly “destroyed,” mocking its current condition, and asserted that the country’s entire navy was “underwater.” He also said many tankers were changing routes to avoid the Strait of Hormuz and that numerous ships were heading toward the United States to collect oil instead.

When asked whether Iran would return to the negotiating table, Trump responded that it did not matter to him whether they did or not. The remarks were reported by Anadolu Agency.

The government has granted a posthumous promotion to former police officer Md. Kohinoor Mia, who had previously lost his job. According to a notification issued on Sunday by the Police-1 branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs, he has been promoted to the rank of Additional Deputy Inspector General (fourth grade). The order was signed by Deputy Secretary Tousif Ahmed on behalf of the President.

Kohinoor Mia was dismissed from service on February 22, 2011, during the Awami League government, when he was serving as Deputy Commissioner (West Zone) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. The ministry’s earlier order had formally released him from duty. The new notification states that he will receive all due arrears and benefits according to regulations.

The order specifies that the decision has been made in the public interest and will take immediate effect, marking a formal recognition of his service despite his earlier dismissal.