According to the United Nations refugee and migration agencies, about 250 people, including children, are missing after a boat capsized in the Andaman Sea. The missing include Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals. BBC reports that the trawler, which departed from Bangladesh for Malaysia, sank due to strong winds, rough seas, and overcrowding.

The exact time of the sinking remains unclear. However, the coast guard stated that on April 9, a Bangladesh-flagged vessel rescued nine people who were found clinging to drums and pieces of wood. A coast guard member, speaking anonymously, said the group had left Bangladesh on April 4 seeking a better life and that their boat encountered a storm on April 7 or 8.

The rescued survivors reportedly drifted at sea for about two days before being found. Authorities have not yet confirmed the total number of passengers or the full extent of the casualties.

Iran reportedly used a Chinese spy satellite to conduct attacks on US military bases, according to a Financial Times report cited by the source. The report states that Tehran secretly acquired the satellite, named TEE-01B, in 2024. Developed by Chinese company Earth Eye Co., the satellite was handed over to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force later that year, giving Iran new surveillance capabilities over US installations in the Middle East.

The leaked Iranian military documents cited in the report indicate that Iranian commanders instructed the satellite to monitor major US bases. Images were captured before and after drone and missile strikes in March. As part of the agreement, the IRGC reportedly gained access to commercial ground stations operated by Beijing-based company Mposat, whose network spans Asia, Latin America, and other regions.

The report adds that the satellite took images of Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base on March 13, 14, and 15. The White House, CIA, Pentagon, and Chinese authorities have not commented on the matter.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said U.S. peace negotiators currently have “no time for Ukraine” due to the ongoing war in Iran. In an interview with Germany’s public broadcaster ZDF on Tuesday, he expressed concern that American weapons deliveries to Ukraine have been disrupted. Zelensky noted that U.S. mediators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are now engaged in continuous talks with Iran, leaving the U.S.-led peace process on Ukraine stalled since the Geneva meeting in February.

Zelensky warned that if Washington continues soft dialogue with Moscow without exerting pressure on President Vladimir Putin, Russia will feel emboldened. He said the Iran conflict has severely slowed U.S. arms supplies, particularly air defense systems such as PAC-3 and PAC-2 missiles purchased under the PURAL program funded by European partners. Speaking in Norway, Zelensky described the situation as “extremely difficult” and announced a joint declaration with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to strengthen defense and security cooperation.

Norway’s government confirmed plans to expand defense industry collaboration, including production of Ukrainian drones in Norway. Earlier, Zelensky also met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin to discuss the fifth year of the Russia-Ukraine war and announce a new strategic defense partnership.

A drone attack on an Iranian Kurdish group in Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region on Tuesday killed one woman, according to a Komala party official quoted by AFP. The strike hit the group’s Sordash camp, about 40 kilometers west of Sulaymaniyah. Three Iranian Kurdish refugees were injured, one of whom later died from her wounds. The attack occurred shortly after a temporary ceasefire took effect in the Iran–US–Israel conflict last week.

Komala commander Mohammad Hakimi blamed Iran and its allied militias for the strike. He said the assault targeted exiled Iranian Kurdish groups that have long operated from bases in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region. Another opposition group, the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), reported a separate drone attack on its camp near Erbil’s Koysanjak district, though no casualties were reported.

The region’s counter-terrorism service said two explosive drones launched from Iran toward Erbil province were shot down by a warplane, but did not specify which country operated the aircraft.

Amid ongoing tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, new concerns have emerged over the Malacca Strait following a recent defense agreement between the United States and Indonesia. The deal, finalized earlier this week, allows US military aircraft to conduct more operations using Indonesian airspace. Although officially described as a defense cooperation arrangement, it effectively expands Washington’s surveillance and operational reach over the Malacca Strait, a vital maritime route linking the Indian Ocean with East Asia.

The Malacca Strait is jointly managed by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, and serves as a crucial artery for global trade. The agreement has prompted questions about whether the United States is recalibrating its Indo-Pacific strategy to secure key maritime chokepoints beyond the Middle East. The strait plays a central role in global energy and goods transport, particularly for East Asian economies.

China is especially dependent on this corridor for its energy imports, underscoring the strategic importance of the route in regional and global trade dynamics.

Spain’s government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has approved a program to legalize around 500,000 undocumented migrants, including Bangladeshis. The decision was made on Tuesday, with online applications opening on Thursday, April 16, and in-person submissions starting on April 20, continuing until June 30. The initiative allows eligible migrants who entered Spain before January 1, 2026, and can prove at least five months of residence, to apply for one-year residence and work permits.

Applicants must have no criminal record. Those granted temporary permits will become eligible to apply for permanent residency and broader work rights after one year. The program follows long-standing demands from Spanish civil society and rights organizations for regularization of undocumented residents.

According to the Spanish government, the measure aims to address labor shortages and enhance social security for irregular migrants. Experts have described the move as both migrant-friendly and humanitarian. The decision is expected to bring relief to many Bangladeshi migrants currently living in Spain without legal status.

Hezbollah launched about 40 rockets into Israel on Wednesday morning, according to the Israeli military. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that most of the rockets were intercepted, while the rest landed in open areas. The attack came a day after Israel and Lebanon held direct talks in Washington, D.C., for the first time in decades.

Lebanon’s health ministry said on Tuesday that Israeli strikes had killed at least 35 people in the country within 24 hours. Despite a ceasefire recently implemented among the United States, Israel, and Iran, fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has continued. Israel has refused to adhere to the ceasefire in Lebanon, though both sides have agreed to pursue further discussions.

On Tuesday, foreign ministers from Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and 14 other countries issued a joint statement urging all parties to de-escalate immediately and take advantage of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

Iran’s military has announced new measures to strengthen control over the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman to ensure national security. According to reports from Tehran, the country is adopting new strategies to assert authority over this strategically vital waterway. A spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbia Central Command stated that oil tankers or ships linked to Tehran’s ‘opponent’ nations will not be allowed to pass through the strait. The government also plans to impose customs and transit charges on vessels using the route, and the military has begun practicing these new procedures.

Iranian authorities have insisted that all ships passing through the strait must coordinate with Iranian officials. Ship movement in the area is currently lower than usual, while new U.S. sanctions have further complicated the situation. Analysts suggest that Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining tool in regional security and ongoing negotiations.

Iran’s political and military leadership reaffirmed that their principle of ‘security for all or security for none’ will apply equally to the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump has praised Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, describing him as doing a great job. In a phone interview with the New York Post, Trump said that discussions between the United States and Iran could resume within the next two days. He noted that talks were ongoing but progressing slowly.

According to the report, Trump called the newspaper’s representative again about half an hour later, suggesting that something significant might happen soon and that the US was leaning toward resuming talks. He linked this optimism to the efforts of Pakistan’s military leadership, saying that Field Marshal Munir was performing excellently. Trump had previously referred to the Pakistani army chief as a “dear” person.

The report also mentioned that Gulf countries were interested in helping Pakistan facilitate renewed dialogue between the United States and Iran, highlighting Islamabad’s potential diplomatic role in easing regional tensions.

The United States Navy has intercepted and turned back at least eight oil tankers linked to Iran that were traveling to Iranian ports. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the operation began on Monday and involved U.S. naval forces halting the vessels mid-route and instructing them to change course and return. The tankers complied with the orders after radio communication with U.S. personnel, and no boarding or physical inspection was required.

The report indicated that this action is believed to be part of a declared U.S. naval blockade against Iran. The tankers’ redirection marks a continuation of maritime enforcement measures targeting Iranian oil shipments. The report did not mention any confrontation or resistance from the Iranian side.

The move underscores ongoing maritime tensions between the United States and Iran, though the source did not specify the broader diplomatic or economic consequences of the blockade enforcement.

Several Gulf countries have shown interest in supporting Pakistan’s diplomatic initiative to bring the United States and Iran back to the negotiating table. The move comes amid ongoing regional tensions that analysts say have significantly affected security and energy infrastructure across the Middle East. Concerns have grown over the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil shipments.

Kuwait, which relies almost entirely on oil exports through the strait, faces particular vulnerability as about 90 percent of its national income comes from the energy sector. A spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry confirmed that Doha has already held discussions with Pakistan and the United States on the issue and is maintaining direct contact with Iran. Recent days have also seen multiple telephone conversations among Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Analysts believe Gulf countries want the ceasefire to hold and tensions to ease through diplomatic engagement. They expect more active regional diplomacy in the coming days to strengthen Pakistan’s mediating role.

Gaza’s Civil Defense agency reported on Tuesday that at least ten people were killed in separate Israeli airstrikes across northern Gaza. Among the dead was a three-year-old child named Yahia al-Mallahi. The agency’s spokesperson, Mahmoud Basal, said four people, including the child, were killed when a police vehicle in Gaza City was targeted. Al-Shifa Hospital confirmed receiving the bodies of the victims, while the Palestinian Interior Ministry stated that the airstrike on the police vehicle caused multiple casualties and injuries.

Earlier, one person was killed in Beit Lahia, where the Israeli military claimed to have targeted an “armed individual” described as a “terrorist.” Later, another strike near the Al-Shati refugee camp killed several more people when a drone fired two missiles at a group near an electrical equipment warehouse. The Israeli army said it was reviewing the incidents.

Authorities noted that despite a declared ceasefire following the October 7, 2023 conflict, violence in Gaza continues, with hundreds reportedly killed since the truce. Analysts warned that the ongoing clashes are worsening the humanitarian crisis.

Bangladesh has been ranked 95th in the latest global passport index published by Henley & Partners, moving down from its previous position of 93rd. According to the new ranking released on April 15, 2026, Bangladeshi passport holders can now travel to 36 countries without obtaining a visa in advance.

The list of 36 destinations includes Barbados, Bhutan, British Virgin Islands, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Madagascar, Maldives, Micronesia, Montserrat, Nepal, Niue, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Bahamas, Gambia, Timor, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. However, not all of these countries allow direct entry; some require on-arrival or electronic visas.

Globally, Singapore retained the top position in the index, followed by Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates in joint second place. Sweden ranked third, while Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland shared the fourth position.

Israeli forces are carrying out large-scale destruction in villages across southern Lebanon, mirroring tactics used in Gaza, according to a report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz published on April 15, 2026. The report cites an Israeli military officer who said troops are following the same approach as in Gaza, maintaining a list of houses to demolish and measuring success by the number of buildings destroyed each day.

Haaretz reported that bulldozers are flattening homes in border villages to clear space for new military outposts. A soldier interviewed by the outlet suggested that the nature of new constructions indicates Israel may be planning a long-term presence in the area. The report also noted that Israeli troops have advanced to villages about 20 kilometers south of Lebanon’s Litani River.

The Gaza-style “scorched earth” policy in Lebanon has raised concerns about a renewed humanitarian and geopolitical crisis in the region, according to the report sourced from Al Jazeera.

Sri Lanka has repatriated 238 Iranian sailors who had been stranded in the country following damage to an Iranian naval vessel caused by a U.S. submarine torpedo attack. Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara said 32 sailors rescued from the warship IRIS Dena and 206 from IRIS Bushehr left Sri Lanka on Tuesday aboard a chartered flight. Fifteen Iranian sailors remain in Sri Lanka to operate the Bushehr, which is anchored near Trincomalee.

According to Iranian authorities, the IRIS Dena was destroyed in the attack, killing 104 sailors, of whom 84 bodies have been recovered and sent home. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the Bushehr crew were sheltered under the 1907 Hague Convention for humanitarian reasons. Iran’s ambassador Alireza Dilkhoush confirmed that Tehran and Colombo had been in talks over the sailors’ return.

Analysts view Sri Lanka’s decision as a humanitarian gesture that underscores its diplomatic neutrality amid regional tensions.