Updated: Apr 1st, 2026 The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has completed final preparations for the launch of its ‘Artemis II’ mission — which is scheduled to lift off as early as April 1 from the Kennedy Space Center. According to NASA, the mission will mark the first crewed flight under its Artemis programme, sending four astronauts on...
Trump to address nation with key update as US-Iran conflict enters second month
Updated: Apr 1st, 2026 US President Donald Trump will address the nation on Wednesday night (Thursday morning local India time) with an update on the ongoing conflict with Iran, the White House said, as fighting involving the US and Israel enters its second month. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the address, saying: “TUNE IN: Tomorrow night at 9PM...
Crude oil prices slip up to 3% from day highs as US-Iran de-escalation hopes rise
Updated: Apr 1st, 2026 International crude oil prices on Wednesday pared early gains and fell nearly 3% from the day’s high, as optimism over a possible easing of the US-Iran conflict weighed on markets. Brent crude futures slipped to an intraday low of $102.79 per barrel, down about 2.9% from the day’s high of $105.86. At the time of writing,...
US may exit Iran war in weeks: Trump
US President Donald Trump said American forces could exit the ongoing conflict with Iran within weeks, asserting that Washington had already achieved its core objective of neutralising Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. “I think two or three weeks,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House when asked about a timeline for ending US operations, adding that the mission...
29 dead after Russian An-26 military transport plane crashes in Crimea
Updated: Apr 1st, 2026 Six crew members and 23 passengers were killed when a Russian An‑26 military transport plane crashed in Crimea, the Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed early Wednesday. The aircraft collided with a cliff, a source at the scene told TASS news agency. The Russian defense ministry said late Tuesday that the An-26 had lost contact during a...
American journalist abducted in Iraq; US claims Iran-linked militia involvement
Updated: Apr 1st, 2026 An American journalist has been kidnapped in Baghdad by a suspected Iran-backed Iraqi armed group, the US Department of State confirmed, raising fresh concerns over the safety of foreign nationals in the region. The State Department said it is actively working to secure the journalist’s release at the earliest. “The US Department of State is aware...
Oracle begins global layoffs, around 12,000 employees in India affected : Reports
Updated: Apr 1st, 2026 Cloud major Oracle on Tuesday began laying off employees worldwide, with several workers receiving an early-morning email announcing their job loss. Around 12,000 employees get affected in India. According to a report in Fast Company, Oracle staff around the world began reporting on social media that they had received an email from the company, “informing them...
Three masterpieces by Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse stolen from Fondazione Magnani-Rocca in Italy
Updated: Mar 31st, 2026 Fondazione Magnani-Rocca (image: Instagram) A theft at the Fondazione Magnani-Rocca, a private art foundation and museum established by Italian art collector Luigi Magnani in 1977, has shocked the art world after three valuable paintings were stolen from its renowned ‘Villa dei Capolavori’ at Mamiano di Traversetolo, a few kilometres south of Parma in the Emilia-Romagna region...
After Spain, Italy denies US aircraft access to military base
Tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict in West Asia have escalated further, with Italy reportedly denying US military aircraft access to its bases, a day after Spain barred American warplanes from using its airspace. The conflict, now in its 31st day, has prompted strong reactions across Europe. Spain has taken a firm stance by refusing to allow its airspace to be...
‘Take nuclear threat seriously’: UN-linked diplomat quits, calls for global action
Updated: Mar 31st, 2026 Mohamad Safa, a diplomat associated with the Patriotic Vision Association (PVA), has resigned from his role at the United Nations, citing concerns over the possible use of nuclear weapons in Iran. Safa, who had served as PVA’s main representative at the UN for nearly 12 years, announced his resignation on X on Sunday, saying he could...