Month: April 2026

US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) asserted that Washington would not allow any attempt by Iran to impose tolls on vessels passing through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, describing it as an international waterway amid rising tensions with Tehran.

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews ahead of US Vice President JD Vance’s departure, Trump dismissed the possibility of permitting any transit charges in the region.

“No, we’re not going to allow that, it’s international water. If they’re doing that, we’re not going to let that happen,” he said.

Trump’s remarks come a day after he strongly criticised Tehran over its reported proposal to levy transit fees on ships crossing the Strait, which serves as a vital artery for global oil shipments.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticised Iran for attempting to use international waterways for leverage, stating that the United States had restrained itself only to allow space for negotiations.

“The Iranians don’t seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short-term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!” the post read.

In a separate post, he also took aim at Iran’s communication strategy, saying, “The Iranians are better at handling the Fake News Media, and ‘Public Relations,’ than they are at fighting!”

The remarks come amid renewed debate over transit policies through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping route.

Earlier, Head of Iran’s Parliament National Security Commission, Ibrahim Azizi, said that under a parliamentary proposal, transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz could be required to be paid in Iran’s national currency, the rial.

According to a post on X by the Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai, Azizi stated that under the Strategic Action Plan for Security and Sustainable Development of the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian government may, if necessary, sign an agreement with Oman. However, he clarified that this is a secondary provision and not the core element of the plan.

“Under a parliamentary proposal, transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz would be paid in Iran’s national currency, the rial. In the Strategic Action Plan for Security and Sustainable Development of the Strait of Hormuz, the government may, if necessary, sign an agreement with Oman; though this is a secondary provision, not the core of the plan,” the post read.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, with any regulatory or fee-related changes drawing global attention due to its impact on international oil and trade flows.

The meeting between the two sides is set to take place to end the over-month-long conflict in West Asia and follows an immediate ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran for two weeks. (ANI)

US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) unveiled an ambitious plan for NASA- exploration of Mars after the Artemis II crew was extracted from their spacecraft.

Trump said that the lunar mission was successful and called the crew to the White House.

In a post on Truth Social, he said, “Congratulations to the Great and Very Talented Crew of Artemis II. The entire trip was spectacular, the landing was perfect and, as President of the United States, I could not be more proud! I look forward to seeing you all at the White House soon. We’ll be doing it again and then, next step, Mars! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

All the Artemis II crew have now been extracted after the splashdown, and will then be escorted to the medical bay, NASA stated on Friday (local time).

As of now, they are on the USS John P Murtha and will go through post-mission medical evaluations.

In a post on X, NASA stated, “All four of the Artemis II astronauts have been successfully extracted from the Orion spacecraft following splashdown and are now on the USS John P. Murtha. Next up, they will be escorted to the medical bay, where they will undergo post-mission medical evaluations.”

The International Space Station crew earlier in the day caught a glimpse of the Artemis II crew as they re-entered the atmosphere from their journey to the Moon.

In a post on X, NASA Astronaut Chris Williams said, “Our crew on the International Space Station caught a glimpse of the Artemis II crew as they re-entered the atmosphere from their journey to the Moon! We first saw a bright light and a trail as the service module burned up. We didn’t see the Orion capsule itself as it re-entered, but we saw the wispy trail it left behind in the upper atmosphere. Overjoyed that our friends are safely back on Earth after their awe-inspiring mission!”

The Artemis II crew has safely returned to Earth after successfully splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, marking a historic milestone in human space exploration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said on Saturday. (ANI)

Rescue efforts continued on Saturday morning near Keshi Ghat in Vrindavan, in Mathura district, after at least ten people died in a boat capsizing, officials said.

The incident occured on Friday. The rescue operations are being carried out by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.

The NDRF teams on Friday retrieved the boat that had capsized.

Mathura DIG Shailesh Kumar Pandey told ANI, “The boat has been retrieved after a 4-hour continuous effort. The death toll till now is 10, as informed earlier, and their post mortem is almost completed, after which they will be sent off to their homes.”

Agra Divisional Commissioner Nagendra Pratap said rescue operations are still underway and that the injured are being treated in Vrindavan hospitals. He added that five people are still missing.

“Rescue operations are underway. 10 people died in the incident, and a post-mortem of the dead bodies is being done before being sent to their respective homes. The injured are being treated in Vrindavan. 5 are reportedly missing,” he said.

Uttar Pradesh Minister Lakshmi Narayan Chaudhary termed the incident unfortunate and said pilgrims from Haryana and Punjab were affected after a sudden storm led to the capsizing of the boat in the Yamuna.

“It is an unfortunate incident. Pilgrims from Haryana and Punjab drowned after a sudden storm capsized in the River Yamuna. 21 people have been rescued safely and are being given free treatment. 10 dead bodies, including 5 men and 5 women, whose postmortem is going on. Entire district administration is working on the ground, including NDRF and SDRF,” he said.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Ludhiana’s Atam Nagar, Kulwant Sidhu, met the families of the victims and expressed condolences.

Speaking to reporters, Kulwant Sidhu said, “I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. Some people are missing.”

Family members of the victims recounted how their relatives had travelled to Mathura and Vrindavan for pilgrimage before the tragedy struck

“I had a telephonic conversation with my family member, and they were very happy upon reaching there. Someone from the family called us and told us that their boat had capsized. We were not able to reach out to them. 8-10 people went there from our area,” a relative said.

Another family member of the victim said, “Yesterday they left for Mathura, Vrindavan. Around 2.30 pm, they uploaded a video expressing their happiness. My family members are among those affected by the incident.”

The incident occured after a boat carrying over two dozen passengers collided with a pontoon bridge on the Yamuna River near Keshi Ghat in Mathura.

According to police, around 25 to 27 people were on board when the accident took place.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy, offering condolences to the families of the victims and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the incident as “extremely tragic and heart-rending” and said officials have been directed to ensure proper treatment for the injured. (ANI)

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Dhruv Jurel powered Rajasthan Royals (RR) to a dominant six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match on Friday. RR continued their unbeaten run, cruising to their fourth consecutive victory this season while also handing defending champions RCB their first loss of the IPL 2026.

RR’s win was mainly founded by a partnership between young sensation Sooryavanshi and Jurel, who dismantled the RCB bowling attack in the Powerplay itself, helping the 2008 IPL champions score 97/1 in six overs.

The chase of 202 runs began with a flurry of boundaries. While Yashasvi Jaiswal fell early for 13, the 15-year-old prodigy, Sooryavanshi, took centre stage. Sooryavanshi reached his half-century in just 15 balls, his second of the season, and eventually departed for a blistering 78 off 26 balls, featuring 8 fours and 7 sixes.

His partnership with Dhruv Jurel was the turning point. The duo put on 108 runs in just 37 balls. Jurel, playing the anchor-aggressor role to perfection, remained the backbone of the chase with a lethal 81* off 43 balls, including 8 fours and 3 sixes.

The match saw a brief twist when Krunal Pandya struck twice in the 9th over, removing both Sooryavanshi and Shimron Hetmyer (0) in successive deliveries. When Josh Hazlewood dismissed skipper Riyan Parag for 3, RCB sensed an opening.

However, Dhruv Jurel and Ravindra Jadeja (24* off 25) maintained their composure as the duo formed a 68-run partnership to guide RR home in 18 overs with six wickets remaining.

Earlier, Royal Challengers Bengaluru overcame a disastrous start to post a formidable total of 201/8 in their 20 overs against the Rajasthan Royals. Captain Rajat Patidar’s (63 runs off 40 balls) half-century and a late flourish from Impact Player Venkatesh Iyer (29* runs off 15 balls) ensured the visitors set a target of 202.

Rajasthan Royals won the toss and opted to bowl first. The decision to bowl first paid immediate dividends. Jofra Archer provided a dream start for the home side, dismissing Phil Salt for a golden duck with the very first ball of the match.

The pressure continued as Archer struck again in the 3rd over, removing Devdutt Padikkal (14 off 7). Virat Kohli looked dangerous, racing to 32 off just 16 balls with seven boundaries, but his innings was cut short by Ravi Bishnoi in the 5th over. When Krunal Pandya fell shortly after, RCB were reeling at 62/4 within seven overs. Soon, Jitesh Sharma (5) and Tim David (13) also lost their wickets, with RCB stuttering at 94/6 in the 11 overs.

Patidar took it upon himself to steady the ship. While wickets continued to fall at the other end, Patidar remained composed. He reached his half-century in 35 balls before shifting into a higher gear.

The turning point came in the 17th over when Patidar unleashed a brutal assault on Ravi Bishnoi, smashing two consecutive sixes to shift the momentum. His counter-attacking 63, including 4 fours and 4 sixes, breathed life back into the RCB camp before he finally holed out to Sandeep Sharma in the 18th over.

Brought in as the impact substitute, Venkatesh Iyer played a crucial cameo to push the score past the 200-run mark. Iyer scored runs in the final over, which yielded 21 runs. His unbeaten 29 off 15 balls, supported by Romario Shepherd’s earlier 22, ensured RCB finished on a high.

Rajasthan’s bowlers started brilliantly but struggled to contain the flow of runs in the death overs. Jofra Archer (2/33 in 3 overs), Ravi Bishnoi (2/32 in 4 overs), and Brijesh Sharma (2/37 in 4 overs) were the pick of the bowlers. (ANI)

In a nod to her younger brother, Ranbir Kapoor, on this Siblings Day, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni has dropped a priceless picture with the actor, showing them posing with their grandfather, the legendary Raj Kapoor.

Riddhima took to her Instagram handle and shared an old picture from their childhood days.

The brother and sister appeared very young as they appeared playfully posing with Raj Kapoor.

Riddhima and Ranbir Kapoor are known for sharing an endearing bond with each other, with the former often dedicating posts to her brother on birthdays and Raksha Bandhan.

Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, daughter of late Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor, got married to businessman Bharat Sahni on January 1, 2006, in a grand ceremony. Riddhima met Bharat while studying in London and got married in 2006, four years after being together.

Riddhima is a renowned jewellery designer. In 2024, she tasted Bollywood success with her appearance in the third season of Netflix’s Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives.

She is now gearing up for the release of her debut movie with comedian Kapil Sharma. The film also stars her mother, Neetu Kapoor, in a key role. Sadia Khateeb, Sarath Kumar and Aditi Mittal are also a part of the movie.

On the other hand, Ranbir Kapoor will be next seen in the much-awaited ‘Ramayana’.

The makers recently gave a special glimpse of the film, introducing Ranbir as Lord Rama.

The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra. It is planned as a two-part series and is one of the biggest projects in Indian cinema.

The film also stars Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. The music for the film is composed by Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman.

The first part of ‘Ramayana’ is set to release in theatres during Diwali 2026, while the second part is expected to release in Diwali 2027. (ANI)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday ordered the expulsion of Spanish representatives from the Gaza ceasefire coordination centre in Kiryat Gat, following strong criticism from Spain over Israeli military strikes in Lebanon.

In a strongly worded statement, Netanyahu accused Spain of defaming Israeli soldiers and taking a hostile stance against the country.

“Israel will not remain silent in the face of those who attack us. Spain has defamed our heroes, the soldiers of the IDF, the soldiers of the most moral army in the world. Therefore, I have instructed today to remove Spain’s representatives from the coordination center in Kiryat Gat, after Spain has chosen repeatedly to stand against Israel,” he said.

He further warned that countries criticising Israel instead of what he termed “terrorist regimes” would not be considered partners in shaping the region’s future.

“Those who attack the State of Israel instead of terrorist regimes will not be our partners regarding the future of the region. I am not willing to tolerate this hypocrisy and hostility. I do not intend to allow any country to wage a diplomatic war against us without paying an immediate price,” Netanyahu added.

The move comes after Spain sharply criticised Israel’s recent military actions in Lebanon despite the announcement of a ceasefire deal.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, speaking during a session of the Foreign Affairs Committee, described the situation as dire.

“The situation in Lebanon is critical, extremely serious, and a disgrace to the conscience of humanity. The attacks must cease immediately. Spain supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, the Lebanese government, and UNIFIL,” Albares said.

Earlier this week, Spanish President Pedro Sanchez also condemned the strikes in a post on X, calling for urgent international action.

“Just today, Netanyahu launches his harshest attack against Lebanon since the offensive began. His contempt for life and international law is intolerable. It’s time to speak clearly: Lebanon must be included in the ceasefire. The international community must condemn this new violation of international law. The European Union must suspend its Association Agreement with Israel. And there must be no impunity for these criminal acts,” Sanchez stated in his post on X.

According to The Jerusalem Post, the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), operating under US Central Command (CENTCOM), was established in October 2025 to coordinate and streamline the delivery of humanitarian, logistical, and security assistance from the international community into the Gaza Strip as part of Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan. (ANI)

Uncertainty surrounds the prospects of talks between Iran and the United States to find a complete solution to end the conflict in West Asia after Tehran reiterated that key preconditions must be met before negotiations can begin.

Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, MB Ghalibaf, in a post on X, said that two measures agreed upon between the parties remain unfulfilled, stressing that progress on these issues is essential before any dialogue can take place.

According to Ghalibaf, the ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked Iranian assets are set as the preconditions before negotiations can take place in Islamabad.

“Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations. These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin,” Ghalibaf said in his post.

The developments come as the fragile ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran hangs in the balance, with Tehran stating that the truce also includes the halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

However, both Washington and Israel have maintained that the ceasefire does not extend to Hezbollah targets, a disagreement that has further complicated diplomatic efforts and heightened the risk of the truce collapsing.

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance, earlier in the day, departed for Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad to take part in talks with Iran, expressing optimism about the negotiations while warning against any lack of sincerity from Tehran.

Addressing reporters before departure, Vance said the United States is open to constructive engagement if Iran approaches the discussions in good faith.

“We’re looking forward to the negotiation. I think it’s going to be positive. As the president of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand,” he said.

However, he cautioned that Washington would not respond favourably if Iran attempts to act in bad faith during the talks.

“If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive,” Vance added.

Vance will be leading the US delegation to Islamabad for talks this weekend.

According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, along with Vance, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, will be part of the delegation.

The first round of those talks will take place on Saturday morning, local time.

The meeting between the two sides is set to take place to end the over-month-long conflict in West Asia and follows an immediate ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran for two weeks.

According to Iranian state media reports, the Iranian delegation will be led by Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a central figure in Tehran’s wartime leadership structure who has taken on strategic responsibilities since the early phase of the conflict.

Iran has yet to confirm if senior officials such as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Bager Ghalibaf have travelled to Pakistan to negotiate with the United States, as reported by the state media. (ANI)

Superstar Rajinikanth urged the film associations to stand against the alleged leaks of Thalapathy Vijay starrer Jana Nayagan.

Taking to his X handle, Rajinikanth described the alleged leaks as “shocking” and “painful.” He urges the government to impose strict punishment on the people responsible for the leaks.

“The release of the Jana Nayagan film on the internet by someone has caused shock and pain. Film associations must raise their voice against this, and the government must identify those responsible and impose severe punishment. Such crimes must not be allowed to continue in the future,” wrote Rajinikanth.

Taking to his X handle, Chiranjeevi penned a note for the Jana Nayagan makers while highlighting the expectations and efforts of people involved in cinema.

“The unfortunate leak of Jana Nayagan is something that deeply concerns me. Cinema is built on trust, effort, and the collective dreams of many. Such incidents affect all of us in the industry and remind us how crucial it is to protect our creative work,” writes Chiranjeevi.

He assured his support to KVN Productions (official production banner of Jana Nayagan) for “containing damage and punishing culprits” regarding the alleged leaks.

“We stand one with KVN Productions in containing the damage and punishing the culprits. Let us all extend our support to respect and protect CINEMA! Kill Piracy. Save Cinema,” writes Chiranjeevi.

Earlier today, the film’s production, KVN Productions, issued a strong statement asking people not to share or watch the leaked content.

KVN Productions, which is backing the film, took to X on Friday evening to share a statement confirming that parts of the movie, and in some cases almost the entire film, have been illegally circulated on social media and other platforms. The team called it a serious case of “digital piracy” and said they are taking the matter very seriously.

“It has come to our notice that certain scenes and clips from the said film and in some cases most of the film have been illegally accessed, copied and circulated by unidentified persons, posing a serious threat of digital piracy,” wrote KVN Productions.

“We hereby notify that downloading, viewing, storing, forwarding, sharing, uploading or circulating of such leaked content through WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, websites, torrents or any other medium constitutes a criminal offence and a violation of copyright laws,” the statement further read.

The team also warned people that even watching or forwarding such content is a crime. Stressing that every online movie is “traceable”, they said strict steps are already being taken.

“Every digital action is traceable, and we have already initiated necessary investigations, including forensic investigations and complaints against persons involved and are actively identifying all others in the chain of circulation. Strict civil and criminal proceedings will be pursued against every offender without exception,” it added.

Jana Nayagan, which is said to be Vijay’s final film before his full-time move into politics, has already faced delays due to certification issues. The film was initially slated to release during Pongal on January 9. (ANI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic boat accident in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, which resulted in the loss of lives of several devotees.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a post on X, said, “The accident that occurred in Vrindavan is extremely heartbreaking. May God grant peace to the souls of those devotees who lost their lives in this tragedy. The local administration is swiftly engaged in relief and rescue operations, and prompt medical facilities are being provided to the injured. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured: Union Home Minister @AmitShah.”

Following the tragic incident, the Ludhiana District Administration established dedicated control rooms at Ludhiana and Jagraon to streamline coordination following a boat accident in Vrindavan involving residents from the district.

Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain confirmed that special teams, including both civil and police officers, have already been sent to Vrindavan to work directly with local authorities in Uttar Pradesh and assist affected families.

Regarding the unfortunate boat accident in Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh), Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana Himanshu Jain has urged residents not to spread rumours or create panic, as District Administration Ludhiana, as well as the Punjab government, is already in touch with authorities in Vrindavan.

He stated that for the help of people, 24×7 dedicated helplines, numbers 01624223226 (SDM Jagraon office) and 01612403100 (Deputy Commissioner Office Ludhiana) have also been set up at Jagraon as well as District Headquarters Ludhiana.

He informed that as soon as the incident came to the notice of the District Administration, special teams comprising both civil and police officers have already been dispatched to Vrindavan for better coordination amongst the authorities.

He once again urged the people to remain together in this hour of crisis and not believe in any rumours.

At least 10 people died after a boat carrying over two dozen passengers collided with a pontoon bridge on the Yamuna River near Keshi Ghat in Mathura.

According to police, around 25 to 27 people were on board when the accident took place.

Mathura DIG Shailesh Kumar Pandey said the incident occurred in the afternoon, and rescue operations are still underway.

SP Rural Suresh Chandra Rawat said that 22 people have been rescued so far and were taken to the hospital.

Rawat said, “Thus far, twenty-two individuals have been rescued from the water. Those rescued were immediately transported to the hospital via ambulances and eight PRV (Police Response Vehicle) units. We are currently assessing the situation to determine how many individuals are safe and how many have tragically lost their lives…” (ANI)

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan on Friday unveiled the new song from his upcoming film ‘Maatrubhumi’.

Titled ‘Mera Jee Nahi Bhara’, the track features new actors Zeyn Shaw and Abhishrri Sen. It is sung by Shreya Ghoshal and Vishal Mishra.

Check out the song’s video here.

“Welcome to the silver screen……. @zeynshaw @abhishrri.sen #MeraJeeNahiBhara,” he captioned the post.

Produced by Salman Khan under the banner of Salman Khan Films, with Apoorva Lakhia directing, ‘Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace’ will be released soon. The film also stars Chitrangada Singh in a pivotal role.

Earlier in March, the makers announced the film’s title change. The film was earlier titled ‘Battle of Galwan’.

The film is based on the 2020 Galwan Valley clash between India and China. A teaser released in December last year offered a first look at Salman Khan in the role of an Indian Army officer.

In the upcoming months, Salman Khan will be seen in an action film with director Vamshi Paidipally. The film will be produced by Dil Raju. Nayanthara is also a part of the film. (ANI)