United States President Donald Trump announced that Iran is “collapsing financially” due to a US naval blockade of Iranian ports that began on April 13. The blockade includes the seizure of Iranian-flagged tankers and redirection of vessels trading with Iran. In retaliation, Tehran has closed the Strait of Hormuz to foreign shipping and captured several foreign vessels. Iranian leaders, including First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, have said the blockade must end for any ceasefire to take effect.

Analysts cited in the report say the blockade is straining Iran’s economy but that the country retains significant oil reserves and export capacity. Iran continues to earn billions from oil already in transit and has imposed tolls on ships passing through the Strait. Experts note that Iran’s floating oil reserves could sustain revenues until August, while the US faces domestic political limits on maintaining the blockade beyond May 1. China’s opposition to disruptions of its trade with Iran adds further pressure on Washington.

The standoff has driven up global oil prices and heightened regional instability. Both sides appear entrenched, with Iran signaling patience and unity, and the US facing growing political and logistical challenges to sustain the blockade.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he has undergone successful treatment for early-stage prostate cancer following the discovery of a small tumour during a routine medical checkup. The information was disclosed in his annual medical report released on Friday, and Netanyahu explained on social media that he had delayed the announcement by two months to avoid its release during the height of the war against Iran. The 76-year-old leader said the tumour was found during regular monitoring after surgery for an enlarged benign prostate in 2024.

According to the medical report, Netanyahu received radiation therapy and remains in good health. Aharon Popovtser, director of Hadassah Hospital’s oncology unit, confirmed that the cancer was detected early and that test results now show no signs of disease. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, had faced speculation about his health earlier in the year when fake, AI-generated images circulated online falsely claiming he had died, including on Iranian state media.

In March, Netanyahu released a video of himself visiting a Jerusalem café to refute the false reports about his condition.

United States President Donald Trump has dispatched envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan as Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad, raising hopes of renewed dialogue to end the US-Israeli war on Iran. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the envoys were expected to meet Araghchi, though it remained uncertain whether Tehran had agreed to talks. Trump expressed optimism about a potential deal, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran still had an opportunity to make a “good deal.”

According to Pakistani sources cited by Reuters, Araghchi’s visit would be brief and focused on Iran’s proposals for talks that Pakistan might relay to Washington. However, Al Jazeera reported that a senior Iranian official ruled out direct US-Iran talks in Pakistan. Iranian state media made no mention of parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, who led previous negotiations that ended without progress. The Iranian parliament denied reports of his resignation and confirmed no new talks were scheduled.

Trump recently extended a two-week ceasefire to allow more time for negotiations while maintaining a blockade on Iranian ports. The US also froze $344 million in Iranian cryptocurrency assets to increase financial pressure on Tehran.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that there are no plans for a meeting with the United States during the Iranian delegation’s visit to Islamabad. In a post on social media platform X, he confirmed that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has already arrived in the Pakistani capital and will hold talks with senior Pakistani officials.

Baghaei explained that the visit aims to convey Iran’s position and message to Pakistan as part of ongoing mediation efforts to end what he described as a U.S.-imposed war and to restore peace in the region. The statement came after earlier reports from the U.S. side suggested a possible meeting between Iranian representatives and American officials in Islamabad.

Iran’s clarification underscores a clear difference in positions between Tehran and Washington regarding any direct engagement during this diplomatic visit.

The United States is reportedly considering punitive measures against several NATO allies accused of providing insufficient support during the ongoing Iran war. According to a Pentagon internal email cited by a US official, Washington is dissatisfied with some member states that denied base access or closed their airspace, limiting the US military’s operational flexibility. The email outlines potential strategies and describes access, basing, and overflight rights as fundamental expectations within NATO.

The document also mentions possible actions such as removing uncooperative countries from key alliance positions and even discusses Spain’s potential expulsion from NATO, though a NATO official noted that the founding treaty includes no provision for suspension or expulsion. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the alliance, dismissing internal emails as non-policy. A Pentagon spokesperson said the administration is exploring realistic options to make NATO more effective and accountable.

Analysts cited in the report suggest the debate exposes renewed tensions over trust and burden-sharing within NATO, potentially marking one of the most serious internal strains in the alliance’s 76-year history.

Member of Parliament Akteruzzaman Bachchu distributed food and cash assistance to families of those killed by lightning during a nor'wester storm, hail, and thunderstorm in Gafargaon, Mymensingh. The aid was handed over on Friday, April 24, 2026, before evening under the implementation of the Gafargaon Upazila Administration and the Department of Disaster Management.

The distribution event took place at the Kandipara Askar Ali High School field, presided over by Mymensingh Deputy Commissioner Md. Saifur Rahman and conducted by Upazila Nirbahi Officer N. M. Abdullah-Al-Mamun. Several officials and local leaders attended, including the Mymensingh Superintendent of Police Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Amir Salman Rony, Upazila Agriculture Officer Shakura Nanni, and others.

The initiative aimed to support affected farming families who suffered losses during the recent storm, reflecting coordinated local government and community efforts in disaster response.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner will travel to Pakistan on Saturday to join a second round of discussions aimed at ending the conflict with Iran. White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt confirmed the plan in an interview with Fox News on Friday, saying Iran had agreed to participate in the direct talks at Trump’s invitation and that Washington hopes the dialogue will lead to a productive outcome and a possible agreement.

The first round of direct talks between the United States and Iran took place in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, lasting about 21 hours but ending without a settlement. That meeting was led by U.S. delegate J.D. Vance, who will not attend this time but remains ready to join if needed. Levitt added that all relevant parties are prepared to travel to Pakistan quickly if required.

According to the report, Pakistan brokered a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran on April 8, which was later extended indefinitely after April 22.

A local BNP leader and his nephew were seriously injured in an alleged attack by Awami League supporters in Boalmari upazila of Faridpur on Friday night. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. in Kadmi village under Rupapat Union. The injured are Abdur Rahman, assistant secretary for agricultural affairs of the upazila BNP, and his nephew Suman Sheikh, joint convener of the union’s volunteer wing. They were first taken to the upazila health complex and later transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital.

According to local sources, the attack followed suspicion that Abdur Rahman had informed police about a drug-related arrest of a local youth named Sajal, who was later released on bail. Supporters of the union Krishak League general secretary Md. Firoz Molya, including Sajal and several others, allegedly carried out the assault. Abdur Rahman claimed the attack was premeditated and demanded justice. Firoz Molya denied direct involvement, saying he was in Gopalganj at the time and was trying to settle the matter.

Boalmari police said no written complaint had been filed yet but assured that legal action would be taken once a complaint is received. The incident has caused tension in the area.

Police in Florida have recovered the body of Jamil Limon, one of two Bangladeshi PhD students from the University of South Florida who had been missing. According to NBC News, the body was found on Friday, April 24, near the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa. Authorities from Hillsborough County confirmed the recovery at a press conference but said the exact cause of death remains unknown. An autopsy is underway to determine further details.

The other missing student, Nahida Brishti, has not yet been located, and police have continued search operations to find her. One person has been arrested in connection with the case and is being interrogated. The university has informed the Bangladesh Consulate about the situation. According to university police, the two students were last seen separately on April 16, Limon near a residential area close to campus and Brishti at the Natural and Environmental Sciences building.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office stated that the investigation is ongoing and efforts are being made to locate the missing student.

A coordination meeting on the overall development of Gafargaon Upazila in Mymensingh was held on Friday, April 24, at the auditorium of Abdur Rahman Degree College. The event brought together district and upazila-level officials to exchange views on local development initiatives. Member of Parliament Md. Akhtaruzzaman Bachchu attended as the chief guest and spoke about development in Gafargaon. The meeting was presided over by Mymensingh Deputy Commissioner Md. Saifur Rahman and conducted by Gafargaon Upazila Nirbahi Officer N. M. Abdullah-Al Mamun.

Speakers at the meeting discussed ongoing development projects, local challenges, and future opportunities. They emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to sustain development progress. The discussion also covered improving public service quality, strengthening law and order, and enhancing infrastructure development across the upazila.

The meeting reflected a collaborative approach among government officials and representatives to ensure continued progress in Gafargaon’s development agenda.

Members of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association faced severe delays while attempting to file a case at Shahbagh Police Station in Dhaka following an assault inside the station premises. The incident occurred on Thursday night, and on Friday evening, at least ten journalists went to the station to lodge a case against twelve identified leaders of the Chhatra Dal. However, they reportedly waited for nearly six hours without being able to locate the officer-in-charge (OC), who was said to be unavailable, and other officers did not disclose his whereabouts.

Ramna Division Deputy Commissioner Masud Alam accepted the complaint but said the case proceedings would begin once the OC arrived. As the night progressed without his appearance, the filing process remained stalled. The journalists expressed frustration, alleging that the police were delaying the case intentionally and possibly awaiting higher approval before proceeding.

The journalists further stated that the delay reflected disregard for press freedom and the rule of law, suggesting that the administration was protecting the attackers. They warned that such behavior undermines justice and raises serious concerns about media safety in Bangladesh.

The Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) has strongly condemned and expressed deep concern over violent attacks on journalists, members of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association, and Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) leaders inside and around Shahbagh Police Station in Dhaka. The condemnation came through a statement signed by HRSS Executive Director Ejazul Islam on Friday. Based on media reports, the organization said at least ten journalists and several students were injured, with some hospitalized for treatment.

In its statement, HRSS said such assaults are not only attacks on individuals but also direct threats to press freedom, the right to information, and freedom of expression. The organization described the attacks on elected student leaders as a serious threat to democratic practice, student politics, and tolerance on campus. HRSS noted that violence inside a police station, despite law enforcement presence, signals a grave concern for public safety and the rule of law.

The group demanded an immediate impartial judicial investigation, identification and prosecution of attackers, proper medical care for the injured, and effective measures to ensure journalists’ safety and prevent political violence.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on Friday night, according to Turkey-based Anadolu Agency. He was received by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Asim Munir. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said Araghchi will meet the country’s top leadership to discuss regional stability, peace, and cooperation. The visit is being viewed as a significant step toward a possible second round of talks between Iran and the United States.

The trip comes as Pakistan intensifies diplomatic efforts to restart dialogue between Tehran and Washington. The White House confirmed that U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkov and adviser Jared Kushner will travel to Pakistan on Saturday to meet Iranian representatives. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said Islamabad is playing a key mediating role in facilitating these direct discussions, while Vice President JD Vance remains closely involved from Washington.

A first round of direct Iran-U.S. talks was held in Islamabad on April 11–12 but ended without progress. Pakistan is now actively working to reopen the negotiation channel between the two sides.

An attack and vandalism targeted the car of Professor Masum Mostafa, Member of Parliament for Netrokona-5 (Purbadhala) and assistant secretary of the district Jamaat-e-Islami. The incident occurred on Friday when he was returning from a madrasa foundation event. According to a statement issued that night, around a hundred assailants attacked his vehicle near Atkapara Giripath Filling Station while he stopped for evening prayers, surrounding the mosque and detaining those accompanying him for about an hour.

Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar strongly condemned the assault in a statement to the media, describing it as a deliberate act against a democratically elected representative and a violation of the rule of law. He said the attack reflected attempts to destabilize the country’s political environment and showed that violent political culture persists.

Porwar demanded a thorough investigation and exemplary punishment for those responsible, urging the authorities to act responsibly to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that he will visit Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow, describing the trip as a timely initiative. In a message posted on social media platform X, Araghchi said the purpose of the visits is to strengthen coordination with partner countries on bilateral issues and to discuss the regional situation. He emphasized that Iran’s neighbors remain its top priority.

Reports indicate that his planned visit to Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, is being viewed as a significant step that could help pave the way for renewed direct discussions between Tehran and Washington. The trip underscores Iran’s ongoing diplomatic outreach amid evolving regional dynamics.

The visits are expected to focus on enhancing cooperation and addressing shared regional concerns, though specific agendas or outcomes have not yet been detailed in the available reports.