The National Youth Power, youth wing of the National Citizens Party (NCP), announced a seven-member partial central committee on Saturday in Dhaka. Tarikul Islam, previously the convener, was named president, engineer Farhad Sohel became general secretary, and former anti-discrimination student movement leader Rifat Rashid was appointed organizational secretary. The announcement came during a coordination meeting at a restaurant in Banglamotor, where NCP member secretary and Rangpur-4 MP Akhtar Hossain declared the new leadership and said a full committee would be announced soon.

Other senior positions went to Tuhin Mahmud and Khaled Mahmud Mostafa as senior vice presidents, Kazi Ayesha Ahmed as senior joint general secretary, and Yasin Arafat as senior assistant organizational secretary. Akhtar Hossain stated that the committee had been approved through a council at the youth wing’s tenth general meeting and later endorsed by the NCP.

The new committee follows the resignation of former member secretary Jahedul Islam, who stepped down after new leaders from three organizations, including the anti-discrimination student movement, joined the NCP on April 19.

Israeli military forces carried out attacks in southern Lebanon on Saturday, violating an existing ceasefire. Lebanon’s Health Ministry confirmed that at least four people were killed in two separate strikes on Yahmour al-Shakif village in Nabatieh district. The area lies north of the Litani River and outside Israel’s self-declared ‘Yellow Line’ exclusion zone. The identities of the victims have not yet been confirmed.

According to reports, explosions were heard throughout the morning in the southern city of Tyre, while Israeli forces continued destroying homes and structures in several border areas, including Bint Jbeil, eastern border zones, and Naqoura. The Israeli military has been conducting operations both inside and beyond the ‘Yellow Line’ area, claiming that Hezbollah had been launching rockets from those locations.

Despite the ceasefire, tensions and destruction persist across southern Lebanon, with ongoing Israeli military activity raising concerns about renewed escalation in the border region.

On April 23, 2026, Dhaka Electric Supply PLC (DESCO) carried out special drives across shopping malls, markets, and residential and commercial establishments under its jurisdiction to promote electricity conservation and reduce excessive lighting. The operations were conducted under the directive of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. A mobile court led by Special Metropolitan Magistrate Hadiuzzaman inspected Mirpur area markets and shops from 7 p.m. on Thursday.

A separate drive took place in the Gulshan–Banani area on April 22, led by Executive Magistrate Mohammad Zubair Alam. During that operation, several establishments, including Spark Gear and Best Buy, were fined 10,000 taka each for violating regulations. One restaurant in Gulshan was also fined for excessive decorative lighting, and unnecessary display lights were confiscated. DESCO teams distributed leaflets and used loudspeakers to raise public awareness about energy conservation.

The drives were supervised by DESCO Managing Director Brigadier General Shamim Ahmed and Executive Director (Operations) Engineer Md. Rashidur Rahman, with participation from several senior engineers and staff members.

At the National Coordination Meeting of the National Youth Power, held on Saturday, organization president Advocate Tarikul Islam called for utilizing the strength of youth to prevent the return of fascism. He emphasized the need for political unity and urged all parties to form a national consensus against fallen fascism and the Awami League to move the country forward. During the meeting, a partial seven-member committee of the organization was announced, with a full committee to be declared soon.

General Secretary Engineer Farhad Sohel stated that the youth group has never acted as a party’s muscle force and will continue to serve as vigilant guardians in times of national crisis and for the protection of sovereignty. Organizational Secretary Rifat Rashid pledged to advance the organization in line with global youth political movements. NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain accused the BNP of betraying the public after coming to power, while Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adib condemned the recent police abuse of two elected Daksu representatives.

The newly announced committee includes Tarikul Islam as president, Farhad Sohel as general secretary, and Rifat Rashid as organizational secretary, among others.

The United States military announced that it has seized an Iranian vessel from the so-called 'shadow fleet' in the Arabian Sea. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the ship, identified as M/V Sevan, was intercepted by a US Navy helicopter earlier in the day. The vessel was reportedly carrying fuel, oil, and gas products worth billions of dollars for foreign markets. It is now under guard and following US military instructions to return to Iran.

CENTCOM stated that the M/V Sevan is one of 19 ships recently listed under US Treasury Department sanctions for involvement in Iran’s shadow fleet operations. Earlier this month, US forces had declared their intent to intercept or redirect vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports. CENTCOM also claimed that a full blockade of Iran’s ports is currently being enforced.

The seizure marks another step in Washington’s ongoing efforts to curb Iran’s sanctioned energy trade through maritime enforcement in the region.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) held a discussion with business sector leaders on Saturday, April 25, in Dhaka, focusing on the theme “Delay is costly: Why immediate economic reform is essential.” The event took place at a city hotel and was organized by the NCP’s Industry and Commerce Cell. Member of Parliament and NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain attended as chief guest, alongside key party officials including Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari and Joint Member Secretary Advocate Abdullah Al Amin.

During the session, representatives from FBCCI, BGMEA, and entrepreneurs from the housing and renewable energy sectors shared their views. Speakers emphasized the need for immediate reform to revive the economy, criticizing the current state of the banking sector and revenue management. Nasiruddin Patwari accused the BNP government of derailing reform processes and urged business leaders to protest against it.

Business leaders called for institutional reforms and urged the government to focus on job creation in light of recent public unrest. The event concluded with active participation from all attendees.

Arsenal returned to the top of the English Premier League table after a narrow 1–0 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday night at the Emirates Stadium. Eberechi Eze scored the decisive goal that ended Arsenal’s run of four consecutive defeats, giving coach Mikel Arteta’s side a crucial win late in the season.

Elsewhere in the league, Liverpool defeated Crystal Palace 3–1 at Anfield, securing their third straight league victory. Despite a second-half push from Palace, goals from Aleksandar Isak, Andrew Robertson, and Florian Wirtz ensured Liverpool maintained control. In the FA Cup, Manchester City reached the final with a 2–1 comeback win over Southampton at Wembley Stadium, thanks to goals from Jeremy Doku and Nico Gonzalez after trailing early.

In Germany, Bayern Munich overcame a three-goal deficit to beat Mainz 4–3 away, continuing their strong form after already securing the Bundesliga title and advancing to the German Cup final earlier in the week.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the country's military to carry out strong strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the order was issued to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The announcement came as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah continued to escalate along the border.

The IDF, in several statements released on Telegram on Saturday, accused Hezbollah of violating the existing ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Both sides have repeatedly blamed each other for breaching the truce, contributing to ongoing instability in the region. The report cited the BBC as its source.

The situation underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the potential for renewed hostilities if the accusations and retaliatory actions persist.

US President Donald Trump has canceled a scheduled visit to Pakistan by a US delegation that was intended to advance peace talks with Iran. Speaking to Fox News on Saturday morning in Washington, Trump said envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would no longer travel to Pakistan. He attributed the cancellation to the long travel time and what he described as wasted effort, saying the delegation could not afford an 18-hour journey without clear outcomes. Trump also claimed that Iran’s leadership was in disarray and uncertain about who currently holds authority.

In a later interview with Fox News, Trump asserted that the United States now holds all the leverage in the negotiations, adding that Iran could initiate talks simply by making a phone call. Meanwhile, an Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had already completed its Islamabad visit, meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior military officials on regional and bilateral issues. Sharif described those discussions as productive and sincere. Trump’s cancellation came shortly after the Iranian team departed Pakistan.

Bangladesh’s national cricket team began their official training in Chattogram on April 25, 2026, under extreme heat conditions, preparing for the first T20 match against New Zealand scheduled for Monday at 2 p.m. The session started at 1 p.m. to help players adapt to the match timing. Young bowlers Ripon Mondol and Abdul Gaffar Saklain drew attention with their impressive performances during practice, earning praise from coaching staff and observers.

The training also focused on pitch assessment, with both teams’ coaches and captains inspecting the wicket alongside curators Zahid Reza Babu and Tony Hemming. Bangladesh’s spin coach Mushtaq Ahmed described the wicket as “brilliant” and expressed confidence that spinners Sheikh Mahedi and Nasum Ahmed could extract turn. He emphasized the importance of mental strength for players, particularly spinner Rishad Hossain, who rejoined the T20 squad after missing the last ODI.

Mushtaq confirmed that three spinners are in the squad but not all will play. He said team selection decisions rest with selectors, the head coach, and the captain, while his role is to ensure all players are mentally ready for each match.

Kylian Mbappé left the field in the 81st minute during Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw against Real Betis on Friday, raising injury concerns for both his club and the French national team. The forward appeared uncomfortable and went directly to the dressing room, with Gonzalo García replacing him. Real coach Álvaro Arbeloa said he was unsure about the extent of Mbappé’s problem and that the situation would be clearer in the coming days.

According to media reports, Mbappé may have suffered a strain in his left hamstring, putting his participation in upcoming matches in doubt. Real Madrid could be without him for the May 3 match against Espanyol and the following week’s El Clásico against Barcelona. Having scored 24 goals in 28 league appearances this season, Mbappé’s absence would be a major blow for Real. France also faces concern ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins for them on June 16 against Senegal.

Arbeloa also expressed disappointment over the draw with Betis and criticized a refereeing decision, claiming a clear handball penalty was denied.

Israel has launched a multimillion-dollar initiative aimed at promoting a more positive image of the country on artificial intelligence platforms. According to a report by Axios cited by Anadolu, the Israeli government hired Brad Parscale, a close associate of former U.S. President Donald Trump and a Republican digital strategist, in September to lead the online campaign. Parscale, who managed Trump’s 2020 election campaign, was tasked with influencing AI systems that he believed relied heavily on critical or negative information about Israel.

The report stated that Parscale’s team began developing a project designed to make AI systems portray Israel in a more favorable light. Although the team has claimed progress, it remains uncertain how much their strategies have actually affected AI-generated outputs. Meanwhile, public opinion in the United States toward Israel has become increasingly negative. A recent Pew Research survey found that 60 percent of Americans now hold unfavorable views of Israel, up from 53 percent the previous year.

The initiative underscores Israel’s growing concern about its digital reputation and the influence of AI-driven narratives on global perceptions.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding Bangladesh’s traditional products such as Jamdani and Hilsa in the global market. In a message to the media on the eve of World Intellectual Property Day, he said that steps have been taken to ensure online registration, faster services, legal protection, and prevention of counterfeit goods.

World Intellectual Property Day is observed globally on April 26 each year to raise awareness about the role of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and designs in promoting innovation and creativity. This year’s theme is “Intellectual Property and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate.” The Prime Minister emphasized that intellectual property protection encourages innovation and creativity, contributing to sports technology, athlete training, branding, broadcasting, and entrepreneurship.

He added that the government is working to build an efficient service system to ensure proper recognition of innovators and creative individuals. The Prime Minister also highlighted initiatives to support athletes through allowances and sports cards, talent scouting, and modern training facilities, which he believes will boost sports-based industries, investment, and employment opportunities.

A high-level Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Islamabad after a day of meetings, just before a United States delegation was reported to be en route to Pakistan. The information was confirmed by Al Jazeera’s Osama bin Javed. Before departing, the Iranian team submitted a formal list of demands to the Pakistani government outlining Tehran’s conditions for ending its ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.

According to the report, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt had earlier announced that the US delegation, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, would arrive in Pakistan on Saturday. Pakistan is currently acting as a mediator between Iran and the United States. Although Iran has refused direct talks with the US, Islamabad is serving as a communication bridge to convey Tehran’s proposals to Washington.

The US delegation is expected to review Iran’s proposals and discuss next steps toward ending the conflict. Tehran’s demands prioritize security guarantees and the lifting of sanctions. Pakistan’s diplomatic role in facilitating these exchanges has placed it at the center of current global political attention.

Akhtar Hossain, member secretary of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of deceiving the public after coming to power by promising a 'yes' vote in the referendum. Speaking on Saturday at the National Coordination Meeting of NCP’s youth wing, Jatiyo Juboshokti, he said the BNP’s claim of majority rule and unilateral decision-making amounted to betrayal of the referendum mandate. During the event, a seven-member partial committee of Jatiyo Juboshokti was announced, with a full committee to follow soon.

Hossain also criticized the government for printing large sums of money and amending banking laws to favor money launderers, suggesting that only the ruling chairs had changed, not the mindset of corruption. He warned that the NCP would resist any attempt to restore fascism through alliances with the Awami League unless the latter was legally banned. Other NCP leaders condemned recent police violence against student representatives and rising fuel and commodity prices, accusing the government of authoritarian tendencies.

Speakers emphasized youth unity and political consensus to prevent the return of fascism and advance the ideals of July’s democratic aspirations.