The US Department of State announced new visa restrictions targeting individuals who assist or support adversaries acting against American interests. In a statement issued on Thursday, the department said that visas for 26 people have already been revoked under this policy. The move comes as President Donald Trump seeks to expand US influence across the Western Hemisphere during his second term.

According to the State Department, the expanded visa restrictions aim to penalize those who knowingly help opposing powers by enabling control over strategic assets, undermining regional security, harming US economic interests, or engaging in influence operations. The statement did not mention any specific countries or groups, including China or drug trafficking networks.

The announcement reflects Washington’s broader efforts to counter external threats and reinforce its geopolitical position in the Americas, aligning with the administration’s tougher stance on security and foreign influence.

Russia carried out one of its deadliest attacks of the year on Ukraine early Thursday, striking multiple cities including Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Kharkiv. Officials reported at least 17 deaths, including a 12-year-old child, and dozens of injuries. In Kyiv, four people were killed when a drone hit an 18-story residential building, while fires and heavy smoke spread across the city. In Odesa, eight people were killed and 26 injured as a residential building and key infrastructure were damaged.

Dnipro faced repeated strikes from Wednesday evening into the night, leaving four dead and about 30 injured, with another fatality reported in a separate attack. Two people were injured in Kharkiv following drone strikes. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said rescue operations were ongoing and the death toll could rise.

Moscow claimed its attacks targeted Ukrainian power facilities, cruise missile sites, and drone production centers. Ukraine said it retaliated by striking Russian-occupied Crimea and infrastructure in Tuapse, where Russian media reported two deaths and seven injuries in a drone attack that caused a major fire.

U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he may visit Pakistan if a potential agreement with Iran is finalized. Speaking to reporters at the White House before departing for Las Vegas on Thursday, Trump said the likelihood of a deal between the United States and Iran has grown stronger. When asked whether the signing could take place in Islamabad, he stated that he would be ready to go there if necessary.

To accelerate progress on the proposed agreement, U.S. Vice President JD Vance led a delegation to Islamabad last week for talks with Iranian officials. However, the discussions did not yield significant progress. The White House has confirmed that talks are underway to organize a second round of meetings, which could again be held in Pakistan.

The developments highlight Washington’s continued diplomatic engagement in the region as efforts persist to reach a workable understanding with Tehran.

Australia will visit Bangladesh in June 2026 for a bilateral cricket series, marking their first tour of the country in over fifteen years. Cricket Australia confirmed the schedule in a statement on Friday. The tour will feature three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 (T20) matches. The ODI series will begin on June 9, with the remaining matches on June 11 and 14, all to be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

Following the ODIs, the T20 series will take place in Chattogram at the Birshreshtha Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium. The T20 matches are scheduled for June 17, 19, and 21. Australia last played an ODI series in Bangladesh in 2011 and a T20 series in 2021.

The upcoming tour marks a significant return of high-profile international cricket to Bangladesh, renewing a long-standing cricketing rivalry between the two nations.

The article by the Director General of Iran’s Information Council analyzes why the recent Iran–US conflict failed to unfold as Washington had planned. Following a 12-day war between Iran and Israel, the United States entered what it expected to be a short, controlled engagement aimed at forcing Iran into retreat. Instead, the confrontation expanded into a 40-day war of attrition that imposed significant military, economic, and political costs on the US.

According to the analysis, Washington misjudged Iran’s strategic behavior, underestimating its missile and air defense capabilities and the potential impact of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran shifted its focus from Israel to US bases across the region, while its technological advances challenged US air superiority. The conflict also revealed the resilience of Iranian society, which rallied around national resistance rather than collapsing under pressure. Regional allies aligned with Iran increased battlefield complexity, and NATO’s limited support exposed fractures in US alliances.

The war’s continuation triggered domestic opposition in the US, rising oil prices, and international political setbacks. Ultimately, the US accepted Iran’s terms to begin negotiations after 40 days, marking a strategic deadlock that will likely shape future policy debates in Washington.

Turkiye’s leading missile manufacturer Roketsan is aiming to become one of the world’s top 10 defence exporters amid rising global demand for air defence and missile systems. The company, which currently exports to around 50 countries and ranks 71st among global defence firms, plans to expand mass production following the inauguration of new facilities by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Roketsan’s General Manager Murat Ikinci said the firm’s growth strategy is driven by lessons from recent conflicts, including the wars in Ukraine and between Israel and Iran, which have underscored the importance of drone and hypersonic technologies.

Turkiye’s defence industry expansion accelerated after Western sanctions and embargoes restricted access to foreign systems, prompting the country to develop a domestic ecosystem of nearly 4,000 local suppliers. With a local production rate exceeding 90 percent, the sector reported $10 billion in exports in 2025. Roketsan employs 3,200 engineers and is the third-largest R&D institution in Turkiye, focusing on systems such as the ALKA and BURC air defences and the Tayfun hypersonic missile.

As global stockpiles of advanced weapon systems decline, Roketsan is positioning itself to fill supply gaps, offering joint production partnerships to allies in the Middle East, Far East, and Europe.

Syria announced on Thursday that it has taken full control of all military sites previously used by US forces, marking the completion of a coordinated handover following the departure of the final US convoy from Qasrak air base in Hasakah. The move ends a US military presence that began in 2014 during the campaign against ISIL. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with senior Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) leaders Mazloum Abdi and Ilham Ahmad in Damascus to mark the transition, alongside senior government officials overseeing the integration of Kurdish-led fighters into national structures.

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the handover reflected efforts to restore unified state authority across the country, including areas long outside Damascus’s control. It added that the process was conducted in full coordination with the United States, citing a constructive relationship that has developed since al-Sharaa’s meeting with US President Donald Trump in November. US Central Command confirmed that all major bases had been turned over as part of a deliberate, conditions-based transition.

The transfer follows a January deal between Damascus and the SDF that brought Kurdish fighters into the Syrian national army and restored government control over key cities and border areas.

The United States House of Representatives narrowly rejected a resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s authority to wage war against Iran. The measure failed by a single vote, 214 to 213, following a similar defeat in the Senate the previous day. The vote reflected growing unity among Democrats, with three members switching to support the resolution, while only one Republican, co-sponsor Thomas Massie, voted in favor. The outcome underscored continued Republican resistance to restricting Trump’s military powers as the conflict with Iran entered its sixth week.

Democrats accused Republicans of granting Trump unchecked power after he and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28. They argued that the president was exceeding constitutional limits, while Trump’s administration maintained that Iran’s actions since 1979 justified self-defensive measures. Ceasefire negotiations remain ongoing, with the US and Iran considering renewed talks in Pakistan after earlier efforts failed. Trump also announced a 10-day pause in Lebanon fighting, though Hezbollah’s participation was unclear.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the US was prepared to resume attacks on Iran’s energy facilities if diplomacy failed. The antiwar group Demand Progress criticized both parties for neglecting Congress’s constitutional duty and urged renewed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

Dhaka University Chhatra Dal Joint General Secretary Sheikh Shovon has resigned from his post, criticizing the BNP’s stance on the July commitment and reform issues. He announced his resignation on Thursday afternoon through a Facebook post, citing the party’s questionable role in these matters as the main reason behind his decision.

Shovon, a student of the 2015–16 session in the university’s law department and a follower of Chhatra Dal leader Fazlur Rahman Khokon, expressed deep concern over the current political situation. In his post, he said the spirit of past movements and the sacrifices of martyrs were being neglected, and that national interests were being harmed by personal and group conflicts. He stated that his ideological position no longer aligned with the BNP’s policies and activities.

Speaking to Amar Desh, Shovon said the BNP and Jamaat’s stance on reform issues amounted to deceiving the public. He added that the party’s opposition to the July commitment created a questionable position, leading to his frustration and eventual resignation.

At a press briefing held on Wednesday at BIRDEM Hospital’s conference room, Professor Dr. A.K. Azad Khan, president of the Bangladesh Diabetic Association and former chairman of the Health Reform Commission, called on the government to supply insulin free of cost to Type-1 diabetes patients. He emphasized that these patients are entirely dependent on insulin for survival, comparing its necessity to oxygen and water.

Dr. Khan highlighted that the Bangladesh Diabetic Association, founded in 1956 by National Professor Mohammad Ibrahim, has expanded its services significantly over the decades. He stated that the association provides far more comprehensive care than similar organizations worldwide, which mostly focus on advocacy.

The event was attended by the association’s member secretary Muhammad Abu Taher Khan and national councillor Matiur Rahman Laltu. Dr. Khan reiterated that access to insulin is a fundamental right for citizens living with diabetes in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested one suspect linked to a major online fraud ring that used the name and logo of a reputed trading company to deceive investors. The suspect, Md. Tajul Islam, 31, from Barishal’s Bakerganj area, was detained in Dhaka’s Kalyanpur neighborhood by the CID’s Cyber Intelligence and Risk Management Team. The group allegedly swindled over 2.1 million taka from victims by promising guaranteed profits through an artificial intelligence-based trading software.

According to the case filed on April 5 at Mohammadpur Police Station, the scam began with a Facebook advertisement featuring names and photos of well-known economists and a former World Bank official to gain public trust. Victims were added to WhatsApp groups and encouraged to invest increasing amounts after initial small returns. Investigators found that Tajul Islam supplied bank accounts and debit cards used to launder the stolen funds.

CID officials said the cybercrime network operates beyond Bangladesh and that efforts are ongoing to locate other members. Authorities urged the public to verify online investment offers and report suspected fraud to local police or the Cyber Police Center.

Jahangirnagar University has resumed its campus–Chandra bus service after nearly two years of suspension, following an initiative by the university’s central student union (JAKSU). The service was officially inaugurated on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 3 p.m. near the central Shaheed Minar road. The event was attended by university officials and student leaders, including the vice president, general secretary, and transport secretary of JAKSU.

JAKSU leaders stated that the resumption followed prolonged discussions with the university administration to address students’ transportation needs. They expressed gratitude to the administration and treasurer for their cooperation. The general secretary hinted that another route would be launched next week and mentioned ongoing efforts to automate the transport system with a sustainable live tracking app for students.

At the inauguration, the university’s vice-chancellor (education) Professor Dr. Sohel Ahmed emphasized that the bus service is exclusively for students and must ensure full road safety. He noted that the transport sector is one of the university’s most expensive areas, currently operating 12 double-decker and 5 large buses through outsourcing.

Popular singer, presenter, and social worker Dithi Anwar has collected a nomination form from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to contest for a reserved women’s seat in the 13th National Parliament. The announcement was made on April 16, 2026. Dithi, daughter of late lyricist and film director Gazi Mazharul Anwar, said she wishes to continue her father’s political legacy within the BNP. She expressed interest in representing either a Sylhet or Cumilla constituency if elected.

Dithi highlighted her family’s political and social contributions, noting that her father served as BNP’s cultural secretary and adviser to Khaleda Zia, while her father-in-law, Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury, was twice elected as a member of parliament from Sylhet-3. She currently chairs the Latifa-Shafi Chowdhury Women’s Degree College, where 3,000 students study free of charge.

She stated her intention to eliminate negative cultural influences, introduce content censorship on YouTube, and advocate for fair royalty systems for artists. Dithi also emphasized reviving the country’s cultural vibrancy and ensuring that artists are not politically sidelined.

A new survey titled “Measurement of ICT Access and Use” released on Thursday at the BBS office in Agargaon, Dhaka, shows that while over half of Bangladesh’s population now uses the internet, significant disparities and skill limitations persist. The survey found that 53.4 percent of people use the internet, but most users’ digital abilities are limited to basic tasks such as copy-paste. A sharp divide remains between urban and rural areas, with 75.7 percent of city residents online compared to only 43.6 percent in villages, a gap of 32.1 percentage points.

The survey also revealed that Dhaka Division has the highest internet access, while Panchagarh lags behind. Only 11.3 percent of people use computers, though 88.4 percent use mobile phones and 64.4 percent own one. In the past three months, 64.4 percent of users searched for government job information, 49.8 percent for sports, and only 11.6 percent shopped online. While 78.5 percent said they could respond to cyberattacks, half identified viruses and malware as major threats.

High internet costs remain a key barrier to digital inclusion, with 43.6 percent of respondents citing price as the main reason for not using the internet.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the ceasefire in Lebanon as a historic opportunity for peace, while rejecting calls to withdraw Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. He stated that Israeli troops remain positioned in an expanded security zone to prevent attacks and cross-border shelling into Israel.

Netanyahu emphasized that his main objective is the elimination of Hezbollah, reiterating earlier intentions to maintain control up to Lebanon’s Litani River. In contrast, Lebanon has demanded a full withdrawal of Israeli forces and the return of displaced residents to their homes.

The report, citing The Guardian, highlights the ongoing tension between Israel’s security stance and Lebanon’s sovereignty demands, suggesting that despite the ceasefire, core disputes over territory and security remain unresolved.