The Iranian Navy has announced the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to shipping sources cited by Al Jazeera. The declaration was reportedly made through a radio message informing merchant vessels that the waterway is now closed and no ships are permitted to pass through. The announcement marks a sudden reversal, as Iran had previously declared the strait open for commercial navigation.

The abrupt decision has created significant confusion among international shipping companies, which are now waiting for clarity on the actual status of the vital maritime route. The Strait of Hormuz is a key passage for global trade, and uncertainty over its accessibility has raised concerns within the shipping community.

The situation remains unclear as companies and observers await further confirmation or updates from Iranian authorities regarding the duration and scope of the closure.

An SSC examinee named Tahmina Akter from Charakhali village in Indurkani Sadar Union, Jianagar upazila of Pirojpur, went to the local police station on Saturday to prevent her forced marriage. She sought police protection to avoid being married off before her upcoming SSC examinations. Tahmina, a student of Jianagar Government Setara Smriti Secondary Girls’ School, took shelter at the police station to stop what she described as a child marriage attempt by her family.

Local sources said her father, farmer Alam Hawlader, decided to marry her off due to financial hardship and the cost of her education. Tahmina stated that her father, brother, and sister-in-law were pressuring her to marry, but she wanted to continue her studies and sit for the SSC exams. Her classmates described her as a bright student and expressed hope that she would be able to continue her education.

Police Sub-Inspector Saidur Rahman confirmed that the girl was returned to her family after they signed a written pledge, witnessed by local elders, promising not to proceed with the marriage.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed strict security measures ahead of the 2026 SSC, Dakhil, and Vocational examinations scheduled to begin on April 21. According to a public notice signed by Acting Commissioner Md. Sarwar, entry of anyone other than examinees and authorized personnel will be prohibited within 200 yards of all examination centers in the capital.

The DMP stated that the restriction is being enforced under the powers granted by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance to ensure that the examinations are conducted in an orderly and peaceful manner. The order will remain effective on examination days during the test hours.

Authorities said the decision aims to prevent any form of disturbance near the centers and to allow students to take their exams without disruption.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC) announced on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and any vessel attempting to pass through will be targeted. The decision reverses an earlier reopening of the vital waterway less than 24 hours prior. The IRGC said the closure will remain until the United States lifts its naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports, calling the blockade a violation of the ceasefire in the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran. The statement warned that any ship approaching the strait would be considered cooperating with the enemy.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the strait is under Iran’s control and criticized the US blockade as “clumsy and ignorant.” The reversal came after Iran briefly reopened the strait in line with a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which had led to a temporary drop in global oil prices. Reports from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and India’s Ministry of External Affairs indicated that Iranian gunboats fired on two commercial ships.

US President Donald Trump warned that Washington would not be blackmailed and threatened to end the ceasefire if no deal is reached before its expiry. Analysts said the renewed closure signals a return to heightened tensions and competing blockades in the region.

An Israeli soldier was killed in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire currently in effect between Israel and Lebanon, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF stated that the soldier died from injuries sustained during fighting on Friday, and three other soldiers were wounded in the same incident. The report was carried by the BBC, citing the IDF statement.

The ceasefire between the two countries has been in place since April 16 and is set for ten days, but tensions remain high. The IDF said it continues to operate across southern Lebanon between the Israeli border and the designated demarcation line to eliminate threats, asserting that these actions are consistent with the terms of the ceasefire. Lebanese state media reported that one person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday.

Details about the specific circumstances of the clashes and the identities of those involved have not been released, leaving uncertainty about the scale of the confrontation.

A powerful nor'wester storm struck Taraganj upazila in Rangpur on Saturday night, causing extensive damage across several unions. Beginning around 8 p.m. and lasting for three hours, the storm brought strong winds, lightning, and heavy rain that uprooted hundreds of trees and damaged numerous houses. Electricity supply was cut off in many areas, plunging residents into hardship.

According to local sources, the hardest-hit areas were Haryarkuthi, Alampur, and Kursha unions. Tin roofs were blown away, mud houses collapsed, and many families were forced to spend the night under the open sky. In Ward 8 of Kursha Union, more than 20 houses were reported destroyed. Fallen trees and branches blocked major roads, temporarily halting traffic until local residents, representatives, and administration teams began clearing operations.

Officials from Taraganj Palli Bidyut Samiti-2 confirmed that multiple power lines were severed when trees fell on them, causing widespread outages. The upazila executive officer and local representatives visited the affected areas to assess the damage.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed strong outrage after two water truck drivers contracted to supply clean water to families in Gaza were shot dead by Israeli forces. The incident occurred at the Mansura water filling station in northern Gaza, the only operational truck filling point on the Mekorot line supplying Gaza City. UNICEF confirmed that two others were injured during the attack, which took place while regular water supply operations were underway without any procedural changes.

Following the incident, all operations at the filling point have been suspended. UNICEF has called on Israeli authorities to conduct an immediate investigation and hold those responsible accountable. The agency emphasized that humanitarian workers, emergency service providers, and civilian infrastructure—especially essential water supply systems—must never be targeted.

UNICEF reiterated that under international humanitarian law, civilians and life-saving aid providers must be protected at all times.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has described the blockade of Iranian ports as an 'unwise and wrong decision,' according to Al Jazeera. Speaking on state television, Ghalibaf said he had warned that if the United States did not lift its blockade, movement through the strait would be restricted. In a video message, he claimed that the Strait of Hormuz is currently under Iran’s control.

Ghalibaf added that when the United States attempted a mine-clearing operation in the strait, Iran strongly resisted and confronted them. Referring to the U.S. blockade, he said Iran considered it a violation of the ceasefire and warned that any such action would be met with attacks. Since the start of the war, Ghalibaf has emerged as one of the key figures in Iran’s administration and led the Iranian delegation in recent U.S.-Iran talks held in Islamabad.

The remarks highlight Iran’s firm stance on maritime control and its growing assertiveness amid ongoing tensions with the United States.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh has declared that the country will not hand over its enriched uranium to the United States, describing President Donald Trump’s demand as unacceptable. Speaking to the Associated Press, Khatibzadeh said Iran is not ready to resume talks with U.S. officials because Washington has failed to abandon what Tehran views as excessive demands regarding its nuclear program.

Khatibzadeh referred to Trump’s recent post claiming the U.S. was prepared to go to Iran to collect “all nuclear dust.” In response, he reaffirmed that no enriched uranium would be sent to the United States under any circumstances. He emphasized that while Iran remains open to addressing legitimate concerns, it will not accept any proposal it deems entirely unacceptable.

Following Trump’s recent assertions about securing major concessions from Iran, Khatibzadeh noted that multiple exchanges have taken place between the two sides but accused Washington of remaining inflexible on demands Tehran considers unreasonable.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the United States of violating a ceasefire agreement. According to a statement reported by Al Jazeera, the IRGC said the closure would take effect from Saturday evening and remain in place until further notice. The group alleged that while several ships had crossed the strait the previous day, the U.S. failed to lift its naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports, which it described as a breach of the ceasefire terms.

The IRGC warned all ships in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman not to leave their anchorages, cautioning that any vessel approaching the Strait of Hormuz would be considered as cooperating with the enemy and could be targeted. It instructed ship operators to follow only official IRGC Navy communications and Channel 16 directives. The statement also dismissed the U.S. president’s remarks on the region as unreliable and unacceptable.

The closure raises immediate concerns for maritime traffic and regional stability, though no timeline for reopening was provided.

The Israeli military has acknowledged carrying out several artillery and air strikes in southern Lebanon even after a ceasefire took effect. In an official statement, the army said its troops remain stationed in the region and launched the attacks when Lebanese fighters approached their positions. The military described those fighters as an 'imminent threat' and claimed the actions were taken in self-defense.

According to the statement, Israel argued that measures taken for self-defense and to remove immediate threats do not fall under the ceasefire’s restrictions. Earlier reports indicated that Israeli shells struck the Lebanese towns of Beit Lif, Qantara, and Tulin, while Israeli forces continued demolishing residential structures in several areas of southern Lebanon.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights ongoing tensions along the border despite the declared ceasefire, suggesting that the situation remains fragile and prone to renewed escalation.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei praised the country’s army, saying that the weaknesses of the United States and Israel have been exposed to the world. According to the state news agency Tasnim, Khamenei delivered his message on the occasion of Army Day, extending greetings to soldiers, their families, and the nation.

He stated that the victory of the Islamic Revolution ended the era of weakness imposed on the army by enemies and commended the military’s recent acts of bravery in defending the country. Khamenei further claimed that Iran’s armed forces have stood firmly against US conspiracies, the legacy of the Pahlavi regime, and separatist groups seeking to divide the nation.

Khamenei added that Iran’s resistance against attacks from Israel and the United States has revealed their weakness and humiliation before the world.

US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran cannot 'blackmail' the United States by threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz. According to Al Jazeera, Iran announced it was tightening control over the vital waterway in response to a US naval blockade of Iranian ports that began on April 14. Tehran claims the blockade violates ceasefire terms, while Trump stated that although discussions with Iran are going well, any attempt to shut down the strategic oil corridor would not succeed in pressuring Washington.

Commercial ships in the region reported receiving radio messages from Iran’s navy warning that no vessels would be allowed to pass through the strait. This has raised uncertainty about whether the Strait of Hormuz remains open and safe for navigation.

The situation underscores rising tensions in the Gulf, with both sides maintaining firm positions over maritime control and sanctions enforcement.

Seventy-five members of the British Parliament have called for punitive measures against Israel in response to its plan to register parts of the occupied West Bank as state land. The MPs submitted an emergency motion in Parliament, led by Richard Burgon, condemning Israel’s decision to legitimize land appropriation through registration. The motion described the move as illegal and aimed at expanding control over occupied territories.

The proposal referenced a July 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice, which declared Israel’s presence in Palestinian territories unlawful and urged its immediate end. The MPs urged the British government to align its policies with international law and to halt any support that sustains the occupation. They also called for restrictions on economic activities linked to illegal settlements, arguing that such trade and investment reinforce Israeli control.

The lawmakers further pressed for specific actions, including banning goods and services produced in settlements and imposing targeted sanctions such as travel bans and asset freezes on individuals and entities involved in the occupation.

An Indian commercial vessel named Sanmar Herald came under attack while crossing the Strait of Hormuz, according to a senior Indian government source cited by Reuters on Saturday. The ship, which was carrying crude oil, was fired upon by two gunboats belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Despite the assault, all crew members and the vessel were reported safe.

The incident forced the Sanmar Herald and at least one other Indian ship, including a supertanker carrying about two million barrels of Iraqi oil, to alter their routes and return. The attack occurred shortly after Iran reimposed restrictions and sanctions on the vital waterway amid heightened tensions with the United States.

In response, New Delhi summoned Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Fatali to lodge a strong protest and demanded assurances for the safety of Indian vessels navigating international sea routes.