Tensions between Beijing and Washington have escalated after Donald Trump claimed that a Chinese ‘gift’ was found on an Iranian cargo ship seized by the United States. On Friday, China’s Foreign Ministry rejected the allegation, stating it had no factual basis. The ministry emphasized that China is a responsible state and that normal trade flows between countries should not be disrupted. Earlier in the week, Beijing had described similar claims as ‘malicious lies.’

China has consistently called for a ceasefire and dialogue since the start of the war, portraying itself as a neutral party despite being Iran’s largest trading partner and top buyer of Iranian oil. Beijing maintains that it does not supply weapons to Iran.

Trump’s new accusation has cast uncertainty over his planned mid-May visit to China, which was intended to stabilize bilateral relations after being postponed once due to the war. On the same day, China’s Commerce Ministry imposed export controls on seven European firms accused of supplying arms to Taiwan, adding another layer of strain to its international relations.

Culture Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury inaugurated a canal re-excavation project in Boalmari upazila of Faridpur on Friday afternoon. The project covers the section from the Madhumati River to the Kamargram sluice gate under Gunbaha Union. It is being implemented as part of a nationwide program for excavation and re-excavation of rivers, canals, and water bodies.

According to officials, the initiative aims to improve water flow in rural areas, enhance irrigation facilities for farmers, and contribute to sustainable development. They expect the project to increase local agricultural production, reduce waterlogging, and help maintain environmental balance in the region.

Local political leaders, administrative officials, and community representatives attended the inauguration ceremony, reflecting broad local participation in the government’s water management initiative.

A large ice block above Mount Everest Base Camp has forced hundreds of climbers and local guides to suspend their ascent toward the summit. Nepal’s Department of Mountaineering official Himlal Gautam said on Friday that the ice barrier, or serac, between Base Camp and Camp One was unstable and unsafe for passage. Climbers are currently waiting at the base camp while authorities monitor the situation.

According to government data, 410 foreign climbers have been granted permits to attempt Everest this spring season, which typically ends in late May. Experienced Sherpas, known as “Icefall Doctors,” usually complete rope and ladder installations across the Khumbu Icefall by mid-April, but this year the work has been delayed due to the unstable serac. The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee plans to conduct an aerial survey to assess the risk, with its chairman Lama Kaji Sherpa warning that avalanche danger remains until the ice melts to a safer level.

The Khumbu Icefall is one of the most perilous sections of the Everest route, and a similar ice collapse in 2014 killed 16 Sherpa guides, marking one of the deadliest incidents in the mountain’s history.

A special operation by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered Indian Tapentadol tablets and a bicycle near the Biral border area of Dinajpur. The raid took place around 11:30 a.m. on Friday, led by a patrol team from Kishoreganj Border Outpost under the Dinajpur Battalion (42 BGB). The items were found abandoned near the cluster village area adjacent to the main border pillar.

According to BGB, ten pieces of Indian Tapentadol tablets and one bicycle were seized during the operation. Legal procedures are underway to process the confiscated items, and intelligence efforts continue to identify the smugglers who fled the scene. The commanding officer of the Dinajpur Battalion stated that BGB will continue regular and strict operations to protect the border and prevent drug and smuggling activities.

The operation reflects BGB’s ongoing commitment to curbing cross-border smuggling and maintaining security along the Dinajpur frontier.

Md. Mizanur Rahman (Dulal) has been elected president and Ashraf Hossain Khan general secretary of the Dhaka Tax Bar Association for the 2026–2027 term. The election took place on April 22 and 23, 2026, at the association’s office in the Revenue Building, Kakrail, where registered members cast their votes over two days. The results were announced on Friday after vote counting.

The Dulal–Ashraf-led Blue Panel, supported by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), won by a large margin. Three panels contested in total: the BNP-backed Blue Panel, the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Green Panel, and the National Citizen Party (NCP)-backed Red-Green Panel.

This was the first direct election of the Dhaka Tax Bar Association since 2018, marking a return to member-based voting after several years.

Social Welfare Minister Professor Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain stated that offenders, regardless of identity, must be brought under the law and that no one should take the law into their own hands. He made these remarks on Friday afternoon at the Nawabganj Upazila Parishad auditorium in Dinajpur while attending a program to distribute checks to families of road accident victims and provide seeds and fertilizers to farmers.

During his speech, the minister urged everyone to remain vigilant against drugs and to assist the administration in maintaining control. He also welcomed new innovations showcased at the science fair, expressing hope that today’s students could become great scientists through their creative work.

At the event, the minister distributed bicycles to 17 students, vegetable seeds and fertilizers to 540 farmers under the SSCP-RAINS project, and mung bean seeds and chemical fertilizers to 40 farmers.

A workshop titled “Climate-Resilient Beekeeping for Livelihood Development in Bangladesh” was held at Gazipur Agricultural University (GAKRUBI) on Wednesday morning. The event took place at the university’s old auditorium and was implemented under the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project. The session aimed to promote sustainable beekeeping practices amid climate challenges, improve bee health and queen production, encourage research and innovation, strengthen industry collaboration, and make beekeeping a stable and profitable livelihood for farmers and entrepreneurs.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. GKM Mostafizur Rahman attended as the chief guest, while Professor Dr. Md. Ahsanul Haque Swapon chaired the session. Representatives from leading agricultural research institutes, including BARI, BRRI, and the Sugarcane Research Institute, along with professors, researchers, and students from several universities, participated. Dr. Haque presented the keynote paper highlighting the potential of beekeeping in addressing climate challenges and the plan to establish an “ApiHealth Research Center.”

The event concluded with an open discussion led by the Vice-Chancellor, emphasizing beekeeping’s role in sustainable livelihoods, nutrition security, and environmental conservation. A symbolic beehive was presented to the Vice-Chancellor as a token of appreciation.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Lebanon’s Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah have accused each other of violating a ceasefire agreement. The IDF reported intercepting several projectiles launched from Lebanon toward Israel and claimed to have killed three individuals identified as Hezbollah fighters who allegedly attempted to fire missiles at an Israeli aircraft. Hezbollah, through Telegram, confirmed launching rocket attacks into Israel, asserting that these were in response to Israeli violations.

According to the IDF, Hezbollah had previously fired rockets twice at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, actions the IDF described as clear breaches of the ceasefire terms. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s state news agency reported that Israel carried out strikes in the southern Tyre region earlier in the day. Hezbollah stated that its attacks on northern Israel were retaliatory measures following Israeli actions.

The renewed hostilities came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a three-week extension of the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire and pledged U.S. cooperation with Lebanon to strengthen its defense against Hezbollah.

Water Resources Minister and BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie said the upcoming local government elections will be memorable and more challenging because they will be held without party symbols. He made the remarks on Friday afternoon while addressing the annual sports and prize distribution ceremony at Haji Fateh Mohammedia Dakhil Madrasa in Lakshmipur Sadar upazila.

Annie stated that the absence of elected local representatives has created difficulties across the country, with many rural areas facing problems for 17–18 years due to this situation. He noted that although the current government has been in office for two months, many local positions remain vacant or inactive, and he urged cooperation with those still serving.

He also emphasized that candidates for chairman positions should be people-friendly, connected to the public, and dedicated to community needs. Annie warned that multiple candidates from the same party could weaken their chances and reminded that union council leaders play a crucial role in shaping local welfare and stability.

A team from the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested a member of a fraud ring along with a stolen CNG auto-rickshaw in the Ramna area of the capital. The arrest took place around 10:50 p.m. on Wednesday during an operation conducted by the DB-Motijheel division. The detainee was identified as Md. Suman Hawlader, aged 24.

According to DB-Motijheel sources, the operation was carried out near the Ramna Shopping Complex under Ramna Police Station. The suspect was apprehended as an active member of a fraud group involved with the stolen CNG. Following the arrest, a regular case was filed against him at Ramna Police Station.

The DMP spokesperson, Deputy Police Commissioner N M Nasir Uddin, confirmed the arrest on Friday and stated that further investigation is underway.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury stated that no one will be spared if they attempt to disrupt national stability. He made the remarks on Friday afternoon while addressing the inauguration ceremony of Saraswati Gyan Mandir at the University of Chittagong. The minister emphasized that his government was elected to build a sensitive, tolerant, and stable nation, and that progress is impossible without maintaining stability.

Discussing the banking sector, the minister said that under BNP governments, financial discipline had always been maintained, including in the stock market and macroeconomy. He assured that similar discipline would return but asked for some time. On load-shedding, he acknowledged the existence of an energy crisis and explained that fuel prices in Bangladesh were raised by only 10–15 percent, compared to a doubling of prices in Washington, due to the government’s limited capacity.

He added that austerity measures were necessary to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply, continued industrial operations, and minimal disruption to people’s livelihoods.

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief M. Iqbal Hossain MP emphasized the government’s zero-tolerance policy against hoarding and extortion during a meeting with local traders at the Gauripur Upazila Parishad office in Mymensingh on Friday morning. He said that traders who illegally stockpile essential goods to raise prices are enemies of the nation and that such practices are strictly prohibited in Islam. He urged business owners to unite against extortionists and to report any such activities to law enforcement agencies.

During the meeting, the minister also announced efforts to upgrade Gauripur’s 50-bed hospital to a 100-bed facility and plans to build a children’s recreation park in the municipal area. The event was chaired by Gauripur Combined Business Forum convener Md. Mahbubul Alam Faruk and attended by several local business leaders.

Later that day, the minister inaugurated road construction work on the municipal market road, accompanied by local administrative and police officials.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. ABM Obaidul Islam has announced that those found guilty in the recent assault on journalists at the university will be expelled under institutional regulations. He made the statement on Friday while receiving a complaint letter from the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association at the Abdul Matin Virtual Classroom near his office. The vice-chancellor expressed regret over the incident, noting that journalists were performing their professional duties and that the matter is being treated seriously.

He confirmed that two separate investigation committees have been formed—one to examine Facebook-related messages and another to probe the physical assault on journalists and others. The university will take further action based on the committees’ reports. The journalists’ association submitted a list of 12 accused individuals, including their departmental and residential details, and demanded their immediate expulsion.

The association also called for permanent expulsion after investigation, cancellation of certificates of former students involved, and identification of any additional perpetrators. The attack, which occurred while journalists were on duty near Shahbagh Police Station, has sparked strong reactions across the national media community.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) central president Rakibul Islam Rakib issued a warning to Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU) General Secretary Salauddin Ammar, saying that the student organization exists even in Ammar’s hometown. Rakib made the remarks in a verified Facebook post published late Thursday night, cautioning Ammar against his recent comments and behavior on social media.

In his post, Rakib stated that JCD has active members across all universities, colleges, districts, and subdistricts of Bangladesh, not just in Rajshahi. He criticized Ammar for allegedly using offensive language and making derogatory remarks about JCD and the Zia family. Rakib also accused a specific group of deliberately creating tension and claimed Ammar continued to post provocative statements online despite the situation calming down.

In response, Salauddin Ammar shared Rakib’s post and wrote that he feared no one except God, urging Rakib to avoid aligning with oppressors and to seek divine guidance for better judgment.

Analysts believe Iran’s economy will not collapse immediately despite the ongoing US naval blockade on its ports, imposed after Tehran closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz amid the Middle East conflict. The blockade, in effect since April 12, aims to pressure Iran into peace negotiations. Former US President Donald Trump claimed Iran is financially breaking down, but Iranian economist Saeed Laylaz told AFP that only a blockade lasting two to three months could cause serious harm, while Gulf states might suffer even more.

Energy experts warned that Iran’s main oil export terminal at Kharg Island could soon reach full storage capacity. Data from Kpler indicated that Iran’s crude oil production has already dropped by about 200,000 barrels per day and could fall by another 420,000 barrels in April. However, Jamie Ingram of the Middle East Economic Survey noted that Iran has previously endured long-term sanctions without major concessions.

Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group added that while ordinary Iranians face growing pressure, the country’s leadership has shown resilience under severe economic strain, using control over the Strait of Hormuz as leverage.