Month: April 2026

US President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) spoke to the crew members of Artemis II mission and praised them for inspiring the world with their feat. Noting that they made history, the US President said that the mission paves the way for America’s return to the lunar surface. Trump also said that US would eventually establish permanent presence on the moon and then aim at Mars.

He made the remarks while speaking to the crew members after the mission broke the farthest distance record in human spaceflight.

Trump said, “Today you have made history and made all America incredibly proud”.

Recalling the last space mission, which was more than half a century ago, Trump hailed the Artemis crew for breaking the all-time record for the farthest distance from planet Earth.

“Humans have never really seen anything quite like what you’re doing in a manned spacecraft. It’s really special. You all made this day possible. You’ve inspired the entire world.”

Praising US tech prowess, Trump said that travelling to the moon would become more prevalent and hinted towards the future trip to Mars.

“At long last, America is back, and America is back in many ways stronger than ever before. We’re the hottest country anywhere in the world. The Artemis crew flew in the most powerful rocket NASA has ever made, ever launched, travelled over a quarter of a million miles, and broke the distance record set by the legendary Apollo 13. America is a frontier nation, and the four brave astronauts of Artemis 2 are modern-day pioneers”.

“We’ll plant our flag once again, and this time we won’t just leave footprints. We’ll establish a permanent presence on the moon, and we’ll push on to Mars. That’ll be very exciting. America will be second to none in space and everything else that we’re doing, and we will continue to lead into the stars”, the US President added.

The Artemis II mission marks a key step in NASA’s plans to return humans to the Moon and advance future deep space exploration.

The crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

The Artemis II mission has broken the record for the farthest distance travelled by humans from Earth, breaking the Apollo 13 mission’s record of 248,655 miles. (ANI)

The World Health Organisation suspended medical evacuation from Gaza after a person who was contracted to provide services to the UN agency was killed during a “security incident”, said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a statement, said that WHO is “devastated to confirm” the death of the worker. He added that two WHO staff members were present at the incident site but were not injured.

“Following the incident, the WHO suspended today’s medical evacuation of patients from Gaza via Rafah to Egypt. Medical evacuations will remain suspended until further notice,” he said.

The incident is under investigation by the relevant authorities.

“We are deeply grateful to our colleagues who work day and night despite the risks to ensure that the people of Gaza can access the health care they need. We call for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers. Peace is the best medicine,” Ghebreyesus

Al Jazeera, citing Gaza’s Ministry of Health, reported that more than 1,700 healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses and paramedics, have been killed in Gaza since October 2023.

Gaza medical evacuation refers to the coordinated process of transferring severely ill or injured patients out of the Gaza Strip for life-saving, specialised treatment that is currently unavailable due to the near-complete collapse of the local healthcare system.

Earlier, Al Jazeera reported that an Israeli air strike killed at least 10 people and left several others injured near a school housing displaced Palestinians in central Gaza,

“At least 10 people were killed and dozens injured, including six in critical condition, by Israeli shelling and clashes east of Maghazi refugee camp,” the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said in a statement.

In the midst of the clashes, Israeli drones fired two missiles, killing at least 10 people and wounding several others, the witnesses added. (ANI)

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warned that, as per President Donald Trump directions there will be “largest volume of strikes” on Monday (local time) since the beginning of Operation Fury, adding that tomorrow’s strikes will surpass today’s if Iran doesn’t make the deal to put an end to the war.

Addressing reporters at the White House, Hegseth cautioned Iran to “choose wisely”, warning that President Trump “does not play around”.

“Per the president’s direction, today will be the largest volume of strikes since day one of this operation. Tomorrow, even more than today. And then Iran has a choice. Choose wisely, because this president does not play around,” he said.

Additionally, Trump called out US allies who “didn’t help” Washington in the war with Iran.

“Japan didn’t help us, Australia didn’t help us, South Korea didn’t help us, and then you get to NATO — NATO didn’t help us,” Trump said at a White House news conference.

Trump added of US assistance to the nations: “We’ve got 50,000 soldiers in Japan to protect them from North Korea; we have 45,000 soldiers in South Korea to protect us from Kim Jong Un.”

Trump then commended some Persian Gulf nations for their support, “Saudi Arabia has been excellent, Qatar has been excellent, UAE has been excellent, Bahrain, Kuwait.”

US President Donald Trump said that Iran could be “taken out” in a single night, suggesting that such a move could come as early as Tuesday amid rising tensions in West Asia.

He also claimed that American armed forces have conducted an extensive air campaign over Iran in recent weeks, carrying out more than 10,000 combat flights and striking over 13,000 targets over the past 37 days.

Trump’s remarks came as part of his warning to Iran over reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, for which he has set a deadline of Tuesday, 8:00 PM (Eastern Time). (ANI)

Star batter of the Indian cricket team Virat Kohli was all praise for the recently released film Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which starred Ranveer Singh in the lead role.

Taking to his Instagram handle today, Virat Kohli called ‘Dhurandhar’ a “cinematic masterpiece” of India. He lauded Aditya Dhar’s direction and Ranveer Singh’s performance in the film.

“Saw the film today and dare I say that I have never ever seen a cinematic experience like this made in india. It brought out every kind of emotion to the surface and I didn’t flinch once for almost 4 hours. Aditya dhar your talent and conviction is reflected in what you’ve created. Hats off to you. You’re a genius. And although all actors were great in their roles BUT Ranveer Singh you have attained a different level after this movie and your performance was beyond brilliant. Absolutely WOW,” wrote Virat Kohli on his Instagram handle.

Anushka Sharma also praised the movie while lauding Aditya Dhar and Ranveer Singh.

“What a fantastic film you’ve made @adityadharfilms! It takes so much conviction to make a almost 4 hr long film. Gripping and immersive, meticulously crafted, the film holds your attention through and through.

You are a fiercely original and assured filmmaker @ranveersingh. You seized a once-in-a-lifetime character and delivered a solid, flawless performance @actormaddy @rampal72 @therakeshbedi sir and each and every fantastic actor in the film-Every performance lands perfectly; the film is unthinkable without each of you.

Many congratulations to everyone behind this one,” wrote Anushka Sharma.

‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, the sequel to last year’s ‘Dhurandhar’, has shown remarkable performance at the box office.

According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, the film crossed Rs 800 crore by the end of its second weekend.’Dhurandhar’ franchise marks Aditya Dhar’s second directorial venture after his National Award-winning debut ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’, which starred Vicky Kaushal.

The second features a powerful lineup including Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, and Sanjay Dutt, with a cameo appearance by Yami Gautam. In the first part, Akshaye Khanna played a key role as gangster Rehman Dakait.

The film’s music, including the track ‘Aari Aari’ composed by Shashwat Sachdev in collaboration with Bombay Rockers, has also contributed to its popularity among audiences. (ANI)

Iran on Monday formally rejected a US-proposed ceasefire deal amid the escalating conflict in West Asia, instead unveiling its own 10-point plan aimed at permanently ending the ongoing war, as reported by the Iranian state news agency Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

According to IRNA, the plan, presented by Tehran, outlines comprehensive measures to resolve the conflict, including the cessation of regional hostilities, ensuring secure transit through the Strait of Hormuz, facilitating reconstruction efforts, and the lifting of international sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Earlier in the day, Iran described the 15-point proposal from the US to end the conflict in West Asia and to open the strategic Strait of Hormuz as “excessively demanding”, stating that it has prepared its own set of demands to end hostilities, which have entered the second month now.

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the US proposal – reportedly delivered through mediators – is too onerous and unrealistic for Tehran to accept.

The ministry, in a statement, noted that Tehran has now compiled and formalised its own demands, signalling that negotiations will proceed only if these conditions are met.

It also said that the possibility of a recent “pilot rescue in Isfahan” in central Iran being a deceptive operation aimed at seizing Tehran’s enriched uranium cannot be ignored.

Earlier on Sunday, US President Donald Trump stated that a high-risk rescue operation was conducted deep inside Iran to retrieve a US service member who was part of the crew for an F-15 fighter jet which was downed by the Islamic Republic last week.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry further cautioned that a ceasefire could simply offer the opposing side a chance to regroup and resume hostilities if underlying issues are not addressed.

“The US 15-point proposal is excessively demanding. We have compiled and formalised our own set of demands. The possibility that the ‘pilot rescue in Isfahan’ was a deceptive operation aimed at seizing Iran’s enriched uranium cannot be ignored. A ceasefire risks becoming an opportunity for the opposing side to regroup and continue its actions,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.

On the diplomatic front, Iran said talks with Oman are ongoing to establish protocols that would ensure the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. (ANI)

The fans of Akshay Kumar and Tabu first watched the beloved duo in the hit film ‘Tu Chor Mai Sipahi’ in 1996, but you will be surprised to know that their relationship dates back to the time before they even debuted in Bollywood.

At the trailer launch of Bhooth Bangla in Mumbai on Monday, Akshay Kumar revealed that he met Tabu 39 years ago when they used to attend a dance academy together to learn dance.

While addressing the media, Akshay Kumar recalled his initial meetings with Tabu before he debuted in Bollywood.

“I would like to tell you all something about me and Tabu. I know Tabu from 39 years. We used to go dance academy togather to learn dance,” said Akshay Kumar.

“He used to pick me up on bike,” added Tabu.

Tabu and Akshay last worked together in the film ‘Hera Pheri’, which was directed by Priyadarshan in 2000. The duo have come back together after 25 years to share the screen in the upcoming film ‘Bhooth Bangla’.

It is directed by Priyadarshan and also stars Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Wamiqa Gabbi, Mithila Palkar, late actor Asrani and others in the prominent roles.

The makers have finally shared the trailer of the movie today to offer a glimpse at the much-awaited reunion of Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar.

The three-minute and three-second trailer opened with the introduction of a demon, Vadhusur, who has grown powerful since its emergence 1000 years ago. It was followed by the appearance of Akshay Kumar, whose eyes are on a lavish bungalow for sale which also appears to be haunted by the Vadhusur.

While Akshay is hell-bent on selling the property, several housemates experience paranormal activities in the house. Paresh Rawal was also seen giving warning to Akshay about the haunted property.

The interaction between Akshay and Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav and Asrani is nostalgic, as it aims to create the similar kind of slapstick comedy which was earlier seen in films like ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ and ‘Phir Hera Pheri’.

The trailer concluded with Akshay’s physical combat with Vadhusur. Apart from the OG comedy actors, the film also stars Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi and Mithila Palkar in the lead role. While Akshay Kumar leads the charge, Tabu stands out as a surprise element in the film.

Her presence in the sneak peek hints at a layered performance that blends humour with intrigue, adding an extra dimension to the narrative. Balaji Motion Pictures shared the trailer on their Instagram handle today.

They wrote, “Welcome to Bhooth Bangla. Yahan na toh log normal hain… Aur upar se Bangla bhi paranormal hai. (Here neither people are normal and the house is paranormal too) Enter at your own risk.”

The film is slated to release in theatres on April 16. (ANI)

Veteran actor Paresh Rawal has been an inspiration to countless people in the film industry. By watching his performances, many actors have learned how to refine their craft. It’s no surprise that his son, Aditya Rawal, who has been doing impressive work lately, must have also picked up valuable lessons from him.

At the same time, Paresh Rawal believes learning goes both ways. He has also learned new things from the younger generation, including his son, showing that no matter how experienced you are, there’s always something new to take in.

Speaking to ANI, Paresh opened up on what he admires the most about Aditya.

“Acting ke mamle mein main pehle aaya hu, mera tajurba meri training alag hai…Main mere bete se yahi seekha hu ki honest ke saath kaam karo. Sir jhukake kaam karta hai woh aur bhaut balanced bachcha hai woh. (When it comes to acting, I came first. My experience and my training are different. But one thing I’ve learned from my son is to work with honesty. He keeps his head down and stays focused. He’s a very balanced individual),” he said.

Paresh shared that there are times when his views don’t align with the views of his children during a debate, but when he reflects on it later, he realises that his children were actually right.

“I am really fortunate to have both my sons, Aniruddh and Aditya. Both of them are very balanced kids. Unke saath debate karo toh unke vichar aapke vicharo se sehmat nahin hote hoge lekin thoda aankh band karke soche toh sahi baat bolte. Main toh yeh maanta hun society mein do ache actors toh aaye hi par do ache insaan aaye yeh main samajhta hu. (They are both grounded and thoughtful. When you debate with them, their views may not always align with yours, but if you reflect with an open mind, you realise they are often right. I believe that society hasn’t just gained two good actors, but also two good human beings),” he beamed with pride.

Aditya was recently seen in Anil Kapoor-starrer ‘Subedaar’ as an antagonist. He will be next seen in ‘Sundar Poonam’ with Sanya Malhotra.

On the other hand, his dad, Paresh Rawal, is gearing up for the release of his horror-comedy film ‘Bhooth Bangla’, which also stars Akshay Kumar, the late Asrani, Tabu, Rajpal Yadav, and Wamiqa Gabbi.

The film is presented by Balaji Motion Pictures, a division of Balaji Telefilms Ltd, in association with Cape of Good Films. It is produced by Akshay Kumar, Shobha Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor. It will be out in theatres on April 16. (ANI)

The Supreme Court on Monday restrained the monitoring committee or any concerned stakeholder from taking any major policy decision regarding the implementation of the resolution plan for the takeover of bankrupt Jaiprakash Associates Limited (JAL) without prior approval of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also requested the NCLAT to hear Vedanta’s plea on April 10 on an expedited, out-of-turn basis.

“There is no need to issue any interim direction except that if the managing/monitoring committee decides to take any policy decision, it shall seek permission of the NCLAT,” the Court observed.

The Court declined to interfere with the NCLAT’s decision approving the Adani Group’s resolution plan to take over Jaiprakash Associates Limited. It noted that since the appeal is likely to be decided soon and the appellant’s (Vedanta’s) interests have been adequately protected by the NCLAT, no further interim directions were necessary.

“Having regard to the nature of the issue and its consequential implications, we request the NCLAT to hear the appeal on an out-of-turn basis. Both sides have assured full cooperation for timely adjudication,” the Court noted.

In its plea, Vedanta argued that its revised addendum bid was financially superior, claiming it offered significantly higher value than Adani’s plan. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Vedanta, submitted that its bid was around Rs 3,400 crore higher in gross terms and approximately Rs 500 crore more in net present value.

“Rs 3,400 crore higher in gross value… roughly Rs 500 crore more in net present value,” Sibal stated.

He further contended that the NCLAT acknowledged certain issues remained pending but nevertheless proceeded to approve the resolution plan. “NCLAT itself says issues are to be decided, but in the meantime they approve the plan,” he argued.

Sibal also submitted that Vedanta had earlier been declared the highest bidder based on value metrics communicated to it. “I received a letter stating I was the highest, both on substantive terms and on NPV basis,” he told the Court.

The Court, however, observed that the decision may have been influenced by the upfront payment component, noting that such considerations could have weighed with the Committee of Creditors (CoC). “That may have weighed with the CoC,” the CJI remarked.

At the same time, the Court reiterated the limits of judicial review over commercial decisions taken by creditors, observing that such matters fall within their domain of expertise. “The problem is the commercial wisdom and our lack of expertise… at this interlocutory stage,” the Bench noted.

Sibal informed the Court that the matter is listed before the NCLAT on April 10.

The Court indicated that, given the pendency before the NCLAT, a time-bound hearing would be appropriate and that a key issue would be whether Vedanta’s addendum bid warranted consideration.

During the hearing, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Resolution Professional, outlined the sequence of events leading to the approval of the resolution plan. He submitted that both bidders were aware of the timeline and did not raise objections at the relevant stage. “On November 7, both sides were called… voting was about to start, they left without objection,” he said.

He further argued that Vedanta’s improved offer came only after the voting process had effectively progressed. “After the process was frozen, Vedanta made a better offer,” Singhvi submitted.

The Bench, however, refrained from examining the merits at this stage. “We have our own difficulty; we will not say anything,” the Court observed.

The matter is scheduled for final hearing before the NCLAT on April 10, where the tribunal will examine Vedanta’s challenge to the approval of the resolution plan. (ANI)

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan never misses a chance to show support for his IPL team, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The Bollywood ‘Baadshah’ arrived at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday to cheer them on against the Punjab Kings.

He was seen sitting in the stands with Suhana. Father-daughter’s visuals from the stadium left fans excited.

The father-daughter duo arrived in the city to support the Kolkata Knight Riders and root for the team.

Three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have won the toss and decided to bat against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 12th match of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament. The high-voltage encounter is being played at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday.

After winning the toss, Rahane revealed that Varun Chakaravarthy suffered an injury while taking a catch during the last game.

“We are going to bat first. Looks like a good wicket, a little bit of the drier side, but it’s a very good wicket and slightly less covering of grass as well. It’s all about having that belief and confidence. It’s about winning those small moments. We are confident. Two changes, forced. Varun Chakaravarthy got injured taking the catch in the last game, and Narine isn’t playing. Powell and Saini are in,” Rahane said.

Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer confirmed that they are fielding with the same XI. “Not at all, I was supposed to bowl as well. So kind of happy with the decision he took. Our (Shreyas and Ponting) chemistry blossomed from our Delhi Capitals days. He gives freedom to all the youngsters, and he is an inspiration himself. Same team for us.” (ANI)

Former U-23 Asian Championships Bronze medallist Lalit will be challenging for gold in the men’s 55kg Greco-Roman category in the Asian Wrestling Championships 2026 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Tuesday, while two more Indian wrestlers will be aiming for the bronze medal.

According to a release, 23-year-old Lalit dominated China’s Huoying Shi in the semifinals to register an 11-3 victory before Aman (77 kg Greco-Roman) and former champion Sunil Kumar (87 kg Greco-Roman) went down in their respective semifinals on a mixed opening day for the Indian contingent.

Lalit, who had bagged the bronze medal in the Muhamet Malo Wrestling meet last month, will now take on 2025 Asian Championships bronze medallist Ikhtiyor Botirov of Uzbekistan after he defeated the local favourite Ulan Uulu in the second semi-final 5-3.

In the 77 kg Greco-Roman semifinal, Aman went down against Zagreb Open gold medallist Ali Oskou of Iran 13-3. The Indian, who had reversed a 1-4 deficit to win 6-4 against China’s Halishan Bahejiang in the quarterfinals, will now face Yeonghun Noh of South Korea in the bronze medal match. 2020 Asian champion Sunil Kumar lost his 87kg Greco-Roman semifinal against Gholamreza Farokhisenjani of Iran 0-8.

In the 65kg Greco-Roman weight category, Sunny Kumar went down in the qualification round against Saifulla Kurman of Kazakhstan and was eliminated. Also, being knocked out was Joginder Rathee in the men’s 130kg Greco-Roman category after he went down in the quarterfinals against South Korea’s Minseok Kim. The Korean then lost the semifinal against Mirzazadeh of Iran to end the Indian’s hope for a repechage round.

Five more Indians – Sahil (60kg GR), Sachin Sahrawat (67kg GR), Anil (72kg GR) and Prince (82kg GR) and Nitesh (97kg GR) will be in action on Tuesday. (ANI)