U.S. President Donald Trump has increased pressure on Cuba, raising fears that his repeated threats of military action against the Caribbean island could soon materialize. A CNN report citing Flightradar24 data indicated that since February, U.S. military surveillance flights near Cuba’s coast have risen sharply. Last Thursday, Washington imposed additional sanctions on Havana, which Cuba condemned as collective punishment aimed at civilians amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Cuban officials blamed U.S. fuel blockades for the crisis, while Trump signaled that an aircraft carrier returning from Iran might be deployed near Cuba. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Cuba’s economic system as unfixable, calling its leadership “incompetent communists.” A White House official told Axios that Cuba is a failed state nearing collapse, while the State Department accused Havana of ignoring public suffering and refusing reforms.

Analysts suggested Trump may favor limited military actions similar to those in Iran rather than a ground invasion, as Washington renews its focus on Cuba following uncertainty in the Iran conflict.

At least six people were killed and 14 others injured when a temple wall and tin roof collapsed during heavy rain and strong winds in Maharashtra, India. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening at the Margudevi Temple in Modewadi village of Sangli district. Police reported that around 350 devotees and visitors were present in the temple premises at the time of the collapse.

According to Sangli district police superintendent Tushar Doshi, the victims were trapped under the debris after a section of the boundary wall and the tin shed fell on them. The injured were quickly rescued and taken to a local hospital for treatment, where they are currently receiving medical care.

Authorities have not yet provided further details on the condition of the injured or the extent of the structural damage to the temple.

The United Arab Emirates has designated 21 individuals and entities as terrorists over alleged links to Hezbollah, according to the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM). The list includes 16 Lebanese nationals and five Lebanon-based commercial companies. Under national law, UAE regulators have been instructed to identify any persons or organizations connected to those listed and to freeze all their assets within 24 hours.

WAM stated that the move reflects the UAE’s commitment to combating terrorism, extremism, and the financing of armed groups. The agency described the decision as part of broader regional and international efforts to strengthen security and stability.

The UAE, along with the Gulf Cooperation Council, had previously declared Hezbollah a terrorist organization in March 2016, underscoring its long-standing stance against groups accused of destabilizing the region.

The United States has announced a reward of up to $15 million for information related to oil transportation activities linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The announcement was made on Tuesday through the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program, which invited individuals to share details about IRGC oil shipments, tankers used in such operations, or persons and entities involved.

According to the U.S. statement, the IRGC is allegedly using covert networks and intermediaries to continue oil exports in violation of international sanctions. Washington has maintained a long-standing strict stance against such Iranian activities, viewing them as efforts to evade global restrictions.

Tehran, however, has consistently rejected U.S. sanctions as “illegal” and reaffirmed its commitment to continue its energy export operations despite external pressure.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called on Pakistan to strengthen its mediation efforts between Iran and the United States to help restore normal maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, according to China’s Xinhua news agency.

During a telephone conversation, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar briefed Wang Yi on Islamabad’s recent mediation initiatives aimed at easing tensions between Washington and Tehran. Dar expressed gratitude for Beijing’s support and voiced hope for closer coordination between the two countries.

Wang Yi praised Pakistan’s mediating role, noting that its efforts had contributed to extending a temporary ceasefire. He expressed confidence that Pakistan would continue its diplomatic initiatives to promote regional peace and stability. Wang added that China would keep supporting Pakistan’s mediation and play its own role in resolving the crisis.

Saudi Arabia has secretly conducted numerous airstrikes inside Iran, according to Reuters citing Western and Iranian officials. The attacks reportedly took place in late March as retaliation for earlier strikes on Saudi territory during the ongoing Middle East war. Analysts said the revelation indicates a more assertive Saudi stance against its regional rival Iran.

Two Western officials confirmed that the Saudi Air Force executed the operations, though the exact Iranian targets remain unverified. The conflict, which began after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, has since expanded across the region. The Wall Street Journal also reported that the United Arab Emirates carried out attacks against Iran, suggesting a widening of the confrontation.

The report noted that Saudi Arabia, traditionally reliant on U.S. security guarantees, acted independently during the ten-week war, exposing perceived weaknesses in Washington’s protective umbrella.

The United States Department of Defense has reported that the cost of the ongoing war with Iran has reached approximately $29 billion. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth presented the updated figure during two hearings of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday. The disclosure came as part of discussions on the Pentagon’s proposed $1.5 trillion budget.

According to the hearings, the war expenditure has increased by about $4 billion over the past two weeks, up from a previous estimate of $25 billion. The Pentagon’s comptroller clarified that the new $29 billion figure does not yet include the cost of repairing U.S. facilities damaged by Iranian attacks, suggesting that the final total could rise further.

The hearings placed particular emphasis on the growing financial burden of the conflict and its implications for U.S. military strategy and defense spending priorities.

A Russian cargo ship named Ursa Major sank about 60 miles off the Spanish coast on December 23, 2024, following multiple unexplained explosions. According to a CNN investigative report, the vessel was likely carrying two nuclear reactors intended for North Korean submarines. The incident has been described as potentially indicating direct Western military intervention to prevent Russia from transferring advanced nuclear technology to its ally North Korea.

Fourteen Russian crew members survived and were taken to the port city of Cartagena, where Spanish police questioned them. Opposition lawmakers said the ship’s captain initially refused to discuss the cargo but later admitted that items listed as “manhole covers” were actually parts of submarine nuclear reactors. The ship’s owner, Oboronlogistics, later called the event a “planned terrorist attack,” reporting three explosions and a 50-by-50-centimeter inward-bent hole in the hull.

CNN’s report added that the damage might have been caused by a Barracuda supercavitating torpedo, a weapon known to exist only in a few countries, including the United States, some NATO allies, Russia, and Iran.

The United Nations has warned that around 45 million people could face severe hunger and famine if fertilizer shipments through the Hormuz Strait are not restored soon. Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and head of a task force addressing the crisis, told AFP that the world has only a few weeks to prevent a major humanitarian disaster.

According to Silva, about one-third of the world’s fertilizer supply passes through the Hormuz Strait. The ongoing disruption has already affected global fertilizer distribution, threatening food production worldwide. The UN fears that the prolonged blockade of this vital trade route could trigger a collapse in agricultural output, worsening global food insecurity.

The organization cautioned that failure to stabilize the situation could escalate into a massive humanitarian crisis, as millions more people are pushed into hunger and deprivation.

Bangladesh has strongly condemned an Israeli attack in Lebanon that killed two Bangladeshi nationals. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Tuesday expressing deep sorrow over the deaths of Rafiqul Islam and Nahidul Islam Nahid, both from Satkhira. The government extended condolences to the bereaved families and confirmed that the Bangladesh Embassy in Lebanon is coordinating with local authorities to complete formalities for repatriating the bodies.

The statement further expressed Bangladesh’s deep concern over the ongoing violence in the region and the loss of civilian lives. It called for maximum restraint and adherence to international humanitarian law. The embassy is maintaining contact with the victims’ families to provide necessary support.

The government’s response underscores Bangladesh’s consistent position on protecting civilians and upholding international law amid regional conflicts.

Israel sent Iron Dome missile defense batteries and personnel to the United Arab Emirates during its ongoing conflict with Iran, according to statements by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz. His remarks, later cited by Israeli media, indicated that the UAE had used the Israeli-supplied Iron Dome system. The confirmation was reinforced by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee during an event in Tel Aviv, where he thanked the UAE for its role as the first member of the Abraham Accords and highlighted the cooperation.

Huckabee expressed optimism that more Middle Eastern countries would soon join the Abraham Accords, expanding diplomatic ties with Israel. The development underscores growing defense collaboration between Israel and the UAE, reflecting a deepening strategic partnership.

The report suggests that this cooperation adds complexity to the regional security landscape amid heightened Iran-Israel tensions, as diplomatic and military alignments in the Middle East continue to shift rapidly.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced that the country’s armed forces are fully prepared to respond to any aggression. His warning came after U.S. President Donald Trump described the ongoing Middle East ceasefire as being in a highly fragile state. While Tehran has repeatedly expressed willingness to engage in talks, it has made clear that it will not accept any imposed conditions.

Iran emphasized that its main priority in any diplomatic negotiation is to eliminate the risk of renewed conflict. Tehran seeks security guarantees to prevent temporary truces from turning into cycles of renewed violence. Alongside these diplomatic messages, Ghalibaf reiterated through a post on social media that Iran’s forces are ready to teach aggressors a lesson, warning that wrong strategies always lead to bad outcomes.

Meanwhile, Trump said Iran’s response to the U.S. peace proposal was “foolish” and rejected Tehran’s reply, which had been sent through Pakistan’s mediation. Observers noted that significant gaps remain between the U.S. and Iranian proposals, and deep mistrust in Tehran continues to complicate the path toward a lasting resolution.

Israel’s air force has claimed responsibility for more than 1,100 airstrikes in Lebanon since the start of a ceasefire arrangement with Hezbollah. According to the Israeli military, over 350 Hezbollah members have been killed, and numerous buildings, arsenals, and other infrastructure used by the group have been destroyed. The strikes have continued despite the ceasefire, which was supposed to take effect on April 16.

The conflict began on March 2 when Israel launched a full-scale war in Lebanon. Since then, at least 2,852 people have been killed, and more than one million have been displaced across the country. Although a ceasefire is officially in place, both Israel and Hezbollah continue to exchange attacks, showing no signs of de-escalation.

The ongoing violence has left Lebanon in a state of humanitarian crisis, with no visible improvement in conditions despite the declared truce.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched an attack on Iran earlier last month. According to the report, the strike targeted an oil refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island and took place during a ceasefire declared by U.S. President Donald Trump following five weeks of air raids. The newspaper cited an unnamed source claiming that the United States quietly supported the UAE’s action.

Another unidentified source told the publication that Washington also backed other Gulf states interested in joining the conflict. However, AFP noted that it could not independently verify the UAE’s involvement, and the Wall Street Journal did not specify the exact date or time of the attack.

Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported that hours after the Lavan Island strike, missile and drone attacks hit the UAE and Kuwait, further straining the fragile ceasefire. The U.S. Energy Information Administration previously identified Lavan as Iran’s tenth-largest refinery, processing about 60,000 barrels of crude oil daily as of 2020.

South Korea will participate in a high-level multinational defense ministers’ meeting focused on ensuring security in the Hormuz Strait. The decision follows a recent attack on a South Korean-operated cargo vessel in the strategic waterway. The meeting, co-chaired by the United Kingdom and France, is scheduled to take place virtually, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.

The South Korean Ministry of National Defense confirmed that Major General Woo Kyung-suk will represent the country at the conference. Discussions are expected to center on maintaining maritime safety and ensuring the smooth passage of vessels through the strait. The move reflects Seoul’s effort to reassess its strategic position in the region following the incident.

The meeting underscores growing international concern over maritime security in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes, where disruptions could have significant global trade implications.