A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s North Maluku Sea region early Thursday, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake’s epicenter was located about 127 kilometers west-northwest of Ternate city at a depth of roughly 35 kilometers. Following the tremor, the US tsunami warning system issued alerts for possible waves within 1,000 kilometers of the epicenter, affecting coastal areas of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

Authorities warned that waves between 0.3 and 1 meter above normal tide levels could hit parts of Indonesia’s coast, while smaller waves under 30 centimeters were forecast for Guam, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Taiwan. Japan’s meteorological agency said only minor sea-level changes were expected, and Australia’s weather bureau confirmed no tsunami threat to its mainland or islands.

An AFP journalist in Manado, North Sulawesi, reported that residents rushed outdoors in panic as the shaking lasted for a long time, though no major damage was observed. Indonesia, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

The human rights organization Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) has called on the international community to take urgent action to prevent what it described as Israel’s plan to destroy border villages in southern Lebanon and block the return of displaced civilians. The group urged countries to impose arms and economic sanctions to halt what it termed Israel’s ongoing repression and to prevent a long-term occupation of southern Lebanon.

The appeal follows remarks by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who acknowledged plans to turn southern Lebanon into ruins similar to Gaza and depopulate the area. Human rights activists warned that such actions could amount to ethnic cleansing. Last week, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich suggested making the Litani River, which flows about 30 kilometers inside Lebanon, Israel’s new northern border.

DAWN’s Israel-Palestine director Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man said Israel is using the war with Iran as a cover to accelerate territorial expansion, now targeting Lebanon. He warned that only real and severe consequences could deter Israel, urging states to act before it is too late.

The United Kingdom is hosting a virtual meeting on Thursday with representatives from about 35 countries to discuss ways to reopen the Hormuz Strait, a key maritime route disrupted by the ongoing Middle East war. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the meeting on Wednesday, stating that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will chair the session. The agenda includes restoring freedom of navigation, ensuring the safety of stranded ships and sailors, and resuming the transport of essential goods through the strait.

Starmer added that following the meeting, military planners will discuss how to secure and make the strait operational after the conflict ends. Participating nations include France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands, all of which have pledged to cooperate in ensuring safe passage through the area. The strait has been effectively closed by Iran since the U.S.-Israeli offensive began on February 28, causing global oil and gas prices to rise.

Starmer cautioned that reopening the strait will not be easy. He also reaffirmed the UK’s full commitment to NATO, responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of the alliance.

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday, April 1, that its forces have taken full control of Ukraine’s Luhansk region. The ministry stated that western military units had completely liberated Luhansk. Russia also reported capturing the villages of Verkhnya Pisarivka in Kharkiv and Boikove in Zaporizhzhia. Luhansk and Donetsk together form the Donbas region, where Russia already controls most of the territory.

The Kremlin reiterated its call for Ukrainian forces to withdraw entirely from Donetsk, a demand Kyiv has repeatedly rejected. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decided to withdraw troops from Donbas, the ongoing war could end. Zelensky, a day earlier, claimed that Russia had given the United States an ultimatum, threatening tougher peace terms if the remaining parts of Donbas were not captured within two months.

The conflict began in February 2022 when Russia launched a military operation to seize Donbas, later expanding into a full-scale war. Western nations have provided Ukraine with extensive financial and military support, contributing to the conflict’s prolongation and escalation.

A joint airstrike by the United States and Israel on Wednesday evening targeted a mountainous grazing area in Larestan, located in Iran’s southern Fars province. According to reports, four people were killed and three villagers were injured in the attack. The injured individuals are receiving treatment at a local hospital.

A senior official responsible for political and security affairs in the local administration confirmed the incident, as reported by the Fars News Agency. The report did not provide further details about the identities of the victims or the specific objectives of the strike.

The attack adds to ongoing regional tensions, though the source did not specify any immediate response or broader implications following the strike.

Authorities in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar conducted a drive on Wednesday night, April 1, 2026, against three filling stations accused of hoarding fuel while displaying ‘no fuel’ signs. The operation, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Md. Mahmudur Rahman Sayem under the supervision of Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rifat Asma, resulted in four cases and fines totaling Tk 235,000.

According to the upazila administration, irregularities were found during monitoring of fuel supply. At Kutupalong’s Messrs Chowdhury Filling Station Ltd, 300 milliliters less fuel per 10 liters was being dispensed, leading to a Tk 75,000 fine. Yusuf and Brothers Filling Station in Palongkhali was fined Tk 50,000 for concealing information and hoarding 5,000 liters of diesel. Another Chowdhury Filling Station in Morichya was fined Tk 110,000 in two cases for excess fuel storage and meter reading faults.

Officials said such drives will continue to protect consumer interests and ensure fair fuel distribution. The UNO warned that artificial shortages and under-measurement would not be tolerated.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for stronger defense, security, and economic cooperation with the European Union amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Speaking at a press conference in London, he said that the United Kingdom’s long-term national interest requires building a closer partnership with European allies and the EU. Since taking office in July 2024, Starmer has sought to rebuild post-Brexit relations with the bloc, citing instability in the Middle East and the deep damage caused by Brexit as reasons for renewed cooperation.

Starmer emphasized that enhancing security and lowering the cost of living are opportunities too significant to ignore. His remarks come as the traditional “special relationship” between the United States and the United Kingdom faces strain, with U.S. President Donald Trump criticizing Starmer’s stance on the Iran war. While Trump has hinted at reducing America’s role in NATO, Starmer reaffirmed that NATO remains the world’s most effective military alliance.

He stated that maintaining strong ties with both the U.S. and the EU serves Britain’s interests and announced that the UK will aim for a more ambitious economic and security cooperation agreement with the EU at a summit in Brussels later this year.

The United States and Israel have claimed repeated successes in their ongoing war with Iran, boasting of destroying most of Iran’s missile launchers and reducing its attack rate. However, Iran has continued to strike oil refineries and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining pressure despite heavy losses. The country has launched over 5,400 projectiles, with less than ten percent targeting Israel. Israeli defenses intercepted most incoming missiles, yet several major strikes still hit populated areas, killing at least 20 people.

More than 90 percent of Iran’s missiles and drones have targeted Arab Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait, which report thousands of attacks but claim high interception rates. Despite their declared neutrality, these states host U.S. military bases and use American and Israeli defense systems. Iranian strikes have killed U.S. soldiers and civilians in the region, showing continued lethality.

The report suggests Iran’s missile precision and persistence have forced the U.S. to ease sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil and exposed the limits of U.S. defense commitments. President Donald Trump’s inability to secure Iran’s surrender or regime change is described as a major strategic failure reminiscent of the Vietnam War.

The United States has agreed to positively consider Bangladesh’s request for a special waiver to import refined diesel and other petroleum products from Russia. The assurance was given by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright to Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman during a meeting in Washington. The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday, March 1.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Rahman discussed Bangladesh’s energy supply challenges caused by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran war. He requested a special exemption from the United States to allow direct imports of refined fuel from Russia. The report noted that Bangladesh had previously sent a similar request to Washington through an official letter.

The statement did not specify when a final decision might be made or what conditions could apply to the potential waiver.

A mobile court in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia fined businessman Mirajul Islam Miraj Tk 50,000 for illegally storing fuel. The operation took place on Wednesday around 5:30 p.m. at his fuel shop in the Center Mor area, where 214 liters of petrol were found stored without authorization. The fine was imposed under the Consumer Rights Protection Act of 2009.

The mobile court, led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Aninda Guha, also searched the shops and houses of Mirajul Islam Miraj and another businessman named Majnu. Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Pradip Kumar Das, along with law enforcement officers, were present during the operation.

Officials involved in the drive stated that such operations will continue in the public interest and that strict measures will be taken against illegal fuel storage and other irregularities.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host a virtual meeting on Thursday with representatives from around 35 countries to discuss diplomatic measures aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil transport routes. The meeting seeks to coordinate international efforts to restore safe passage through the strait, which has been effectively blocked since late February.

According to the report, Iran has maintained the blockade using drones, missiles, and possible mines following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28. The disruption has led to a rise in global energy prices. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier stated that reducing tensions and reopening the strait are essential to addressing the growing cost of living.

The planned meeting underscores the UK’s diplomatic initiative to ease regional tensions and stabilize global energy markets through multilateral engagement.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on social media platform Truth Social that Iran’s new president had requested a ceasefire from the United States. Trump added that Washington would only consider a ceasefire once the Strait of Hormuz was open, free, and safe, declaring that until then, the U.S. was destroying Iran or, as he put it, sending it back to the Stone Age.

Iranian authorities firmly rejected Trump’s claim, calling it false and denying any direct talks or agreements. The Iranian foreign minister clarified that while some messages had been exchanged, they could not be considered negotiations or a ceasefire request. Tehran, he said, remained prepared to continue the war.

Following Trump’s remarks, global oil prices rose, reflecting market sensitivity to escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.

A line worker of Rangpur Palli Bidyut Samiti-1 was assaulted while collecting overdue electricity bills in Kandi Bazar, Pirgacha, Rangpur. The incident occurred on Monday morning when locals became agitated after power connections were disconnected without prior notice. The situation escalated following alleged provocation by a local shopkeeper named Lavlu, leading to a physical attack on lineman Rakibul Islam, who was later hospitalized with serious injuries.

Despite a written complaint naming seven individuals being submitted the same night, police had not registered a case three days later. Officials from the electricity office alleged that the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Debashish Basak called both parties for a mediation meeting instead. The UNO confirmed hearing both sides and said a final decision would be made the following Tuesday, adding that a case would proceed if no settlement was reached.

Local residents claimed that the main accused, Lavlu, has a history of involvement in criminal activities. Observers warned that delaying legal action and pursuing compromise in such cases could embolden offenders.

Iran’s emergency medical services chief has reported that 24 health workers have been killed since the start of the ongoing US-Israeli attacks on the country. The casualties include doctors, nurses, technicians, and other staff working in health and food service sectors. Additionally, at least 114 health workers have been injured, among them 74 EMS 115 emergency responders who were hurt while treating victims at attack sites.

According to the report, more than 330 healthcare facilities have been damaged in the strikes, and one rescue helicopter has been destroyed. Officials warned that the continued assaults on the health sector are worsening the humanitarian situation and straining emergency response capabilities.

The sustained damage to Iran’s medical infrastructure has raised concerns about the country’s ability to maintain essential health services amid the conflict.

Authorities in Jamalganj, Sunamganj, seized approximately 2,080 liters of illegally stored diesel during a joint operation on Wednesday afternoon. The drive was conducted by the district administration, police, and Border Guard Bangladesh at Sachna Bazar. The fuel was recovered from a warehouse adjacent to the mosque market, belonging to Nabi Hossain, son of the late Abdu Mia of Dhanuakhali village. Hossain was not present during the raid.

Officials found ten 200-liter drums and one open drum containing an additional 80 liters of diesel, along with three empty drums. The seized fuel and containers were placed under the custody of Md. Shahjalal, the officer in charge of the Jamuna Oil Company barge depot at Sachna Bazar. The operation was led by Executive Magistrate Sakibur Rahman of the Sunamganj district administration.

According to the magistrate, the operation was based on confidential information and aimed to maintain normal fuel supply by preventing illegal hoarding. No arrests were made at the scene.